With the spectre of terrorism looming large on the Independence Day celebrations, top police officials of five States met at Delhi Police headquarters on Wednesday to chalk out strategy to deal with the threat.
The recent conviction of the Batla House encounter accused Shahzad and the intelligence intercepts about the movement of Indian Mujahideen terrorists have forced the security agencies to redraft their strategy.
Officers from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Haryana deliberated for hours for better coordination during the run up to Independence Day celebrations. Agencies have advised the States to keep a watch on the movements of heavy vehicles.
Source said that the inter-State coordination meeting of the police officers discussed at length the developing security scenario and the threat from the various terrorist groups owing allegiance to Pakistan. There are reports about the movements of IM cadres and vigil has been mounted on the Western and Eastern borders of the country to checkmate the mercenaries of lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad. There are intercepts about the heightened activity in the Jaisalmer, Poonch and Rajouri sectors. Security agencies have advised about the suspected infiltration from these areas on the Western borders.
The ambush on the patrol party of the 21st Bihar Regiment by regulars of the Pakistan Army and terrorists appears to be the part of a bigger conspiracy by the notorious Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), sources said.
A strict security regimen will be put in the city and special attention will be accorded to busy market places, Metro stations and railway stations in the Capital. Areas around the historic Red Fort have been kept under surveillance. Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Red Fort and other parts of the Walled City area have been put under high security risk category. Elaborate security blankets will envelope the city with anti-air craft guns being deployed at strategic locations.
According to an official, Delhi Traffic Police will be sealing the borders of the Capital with the help of its counterparts from other States. Movement of heavy commercial vehicles will be prohibited. This arrangement will become effective from 5 pm on the eve of the Independence Day and will remain so till the celebrations over. Private passenger vehicles will be allowed entry only after the antecedents of the occupants is verified.