Independence Day alert: Lashkar may try to hijack Air India flight, attack BJP offices

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, August 13, 2015: Pakistan based banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) may target Air India flights on Kabul-Delhi route, a latest alert issued by intelligence agencies ahead of Independence Day has warned. Intelligence agencies have received inputs that Lashkar may target Air India flight on Delhi-Kabul route, which is frequently used by senior government officials. Read: Centre issues terror alert ahead of Independence Day

 

According to reports, about 8-10 Lashkar men are trying to enter into the Indian territory from across the border to launch multiple attacks on hotels and railway stations.

An advisory issued by the Home Ministry said intelligence agencies have warned of a possible 26/11 style influx of terrorists from the sea and an attack on BJP offices. The advisory has asked security forces to remain alert on the occasion of Independence Day to thwart any such attempt.

MHA alert says that the terrorists might use the air route to strike using a para gliders to carry out an attack. Security forces have been asked to remain vigilant against any such attempt to sabotage, especially targeting high risk dignitaries.

The recent terror attack in Gurdaspur, several terror incidents in the past including serial blasts in Patna in 2013 targeting election rally of Narendra Modi indicated that threat emanates from Pakistan based terrorist groups and their Indian affiliates like the Indian Mujahideen and members of ex-SIMI to possible targets like in Delhi like Lotus Temple, shopping malls in Noida, metro Stations, Red Fort and political personalities, the MHA advisory said.

The alert has come even as security agencies are busy in putting in place massive arrangement for Independence Day celebrations. The Home Ministry had earlier issued a massive security alert to all states of possible terror attacks, with special focus on Delhi, Mumbai, and the border states of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat. The Home Ministry warned that terror groups like SIMI, Indian Mujahideen (IM), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Tahrik-e-Furqan (TeF), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Pasban-e-Ahle Hadis (PAH) are planning to target important installations in the country.

Intelligence Bureau (IB) have also intercepted several conversations where handlers from across border were heard giving directions to attack Army and other security forces’ camps and convoys. MHA alert also said that for the first time ISI has given the responsibility to LeT to coordinate with all other terror groups. Recently, there has been a spate of terror attacks by LeT trained militants in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

The Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) have deployed additional forces to step up vigil on the Indo-Pakistan border along in Jammu and Kashmir. The Army has deployed an additional fifty thousand troops along the border. An alert was also sounded in the four north-eastern states after separatist rebels announced a boycott of Independence Day celebrations, a home ministry official said on Tuesday.

Four frontline separatist groups in the region have called for a boycott of Independence Day and also a general strike from 12 am to 6 pm on August 15. Thousands of army, police and paramilitary troopers were on standby in other north-eastern states to ensure that militants are not able to indulge in violence ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, particularly in Manipur.

 

Courtesy: Indiatoday