In a startling revelation, IG (Ardh Kumbh) GS Martolia said on Wednesday that the four suspected terrorists arrested in Roorkee on Tuesday night had recently conducted reconnaissance in Har-ki-Pauri and the railway station in Haridwar and their plan was to create heavy casualties by triggering stampedes through blasts or some other means during the Ardh Kumba Mela.
Garhwal Range IG Sanjay Kumar Gunjiyal said that Uttarakhand police had received intelligence inputs around a week ago of some youths connected with international terrorist organisations through social media staying in Haridwar district. Since then, Uttarakhand police had been working in conjunction with Delhi police to foil their bid to disrupt Ardh Kumbh through terror strike.
The coordinated efforts of Uttarakhand police and Delhi police yielded results as the suspected terrorists, who are students and residents of Haridwar, were arrested on Tuesday night. "Had we not arrested them on time they might have succeeded in spawning casualties during the mega religious event to hog the international limelight," said a senior cop.
The Delhi police had registered a case against these suspects in lodi Road police station a day before the joint operation was launched. These suspects are college students who do not have any past criminal records.
Police sources say that Haridwar having a large floating population coming from across the country, it is difficult for them to verify each of them coming in an incessant flow. "We have been directed to conduct stringent verification drive for all the residents in Haridwar. But it is an uphill task," added the official. Martolia said that the CCTV cameras installed at various places would be used to identify suspects during the mela, particularly during the special snans.
"We are on high alert," he added.
He further said that police have been directed to be vigilant and additional forces have been deployed at sensitive places in the Ardh Kumbh Mela area.
FIR will be lodged against the hotel owners if they do not comply with the law of collecting identity proofs from their boarders, he warned.