The terror threat keeps looming large over ‘Devbhoomi’ Uttarakhand after the suspected ISIS agent Mohammad Eizaz, alias Mohammad Kalam, arrested by Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) Special Task Force (STF) on November 27 with sensitive documents pertaining to Indian Army, had disclosed that several places in the State were under their lens while being grilled. Taking a serious note of this development, a team of Uttarakhand STF has been sent to Meerut on Saturday to collect more information about the same. With major cities of the country remaining under the radar of the terrorists, now several places of Uttarakhand like Haridwar, Dehradun and Nainital are the new additions. To make things more worrisome for Uttarakhand Police, the Central intelligence agencies have cautioned them about a possible terror strike, asking them to be fully on their guard.
State director general of police (DGP) BS Sidhu said that the Union Home Ministry had issued an advisory on a likely terror strike hanging over the State. “Acting on it, we have put police on alert,” he said.
Dwelling on the grim disclosures coming out of the suspected ISIS agent’s interrogation, he said a Special Task Force (STF) team has been sent to Meerut to grill the accused regarding the same. “We cannot leave anything to chances as far as the threat of terror strike hanging over the State is concerned. Besides, we have stepped up security and have asked the district police heads to deploy additional forces at sensitive places in their respective districts,” Sidhu said.
The terror threat has reasons to be taken seriously in view of the fact that a number of sensitive Government- run and private institutes are located in Derhadun, Haridwar and some other places in the State. Some of them are Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (Dehradun), Indian Military Academy, (Dehradun), Forest Research Institute (Dehradun), Indo-Tibetan Border Police Headquarters at Seemadwar,(Dehradun), Instruments Research and Development Establishment (Raipur in Dehradun) as well as private educational institutes like Doon School, Welham School, Doon International School and Asian School. Moreover, Ardh Kumbh Mela is scheduled to start in January, 2016 during which crores of pilgrims from across the country are expected to throng Haridwar to take holy dip in Ganga. Besides, the passing- out parade would soon be held at IMA in Dehradun where hundreds of cadets are commissioned as officers in the Indian Army.
Garhwal Range IG/DIG Sanjay Kumar Gunjiyal said that in view of the Home Ministry directions, a special security plan has been firmed up to ensure foolproof security cover to thwart any subversive attack. An order has been issued to the district police along with Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) to further raise their guard at important places.
The district police officers have been directed to deploy sniffer dog squad, cavalry, mounted squad and intelligence sleuths at sensitive places. This apart, they have also been directed to check and frisk suspected vehicles.
Round the clock vehicle checking drive and patrolling at the sensitive points like railway station, bus station, important government buildings and congested bazaars have been ordered. Besides, police officers have been directed to keep vigil on all dharmshalas, ashrams, lodges, hotels and guest houses and to verify the identities of the tenants. “We must ensure that none of them is used by the terrorists as their hideouts,” said a senior State cop.