Ahead of the Republic Day celebrations, Intelligence agencies are leaving nothing to chance and are putting stringent security measures in place in the national Capital.
The agencies are taking into account everything, right from revelations by arrested Islamic State (ISIS) cadre about plans to carry out a Nice-type attack, to recovery of a pen drive carrying pictures of VVIPs, the possibility of black flag protests and slogan shouting by left- wing elements from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), to dharnas by Jat agitators from neighbouring Haryana.
Apart from the threat perception, the agencies have also taken note of East Delhi’s garbage crisis which they fear may attract birds and pose a risk to the traditional Republic Day flypast by the Indian Air Force.
“The ISIS cadres arrested in Kerala disclosed their intentions to carry out a Nice-type attack by plowing a heavy vehicle into a crowd. Also, the recovery of a pen drive from a blast site in Malappuram, Kerala, containing photographs of many VVIPs indicates the long-term intentions of the young people who have gravitated towards these outfits,” pointed out senior officials at a recent review meeting of the country’s security agencies.
Though there are no specific inputs, the agencies do not rule out the possibility of Pakistan-based terror outfits and the ISIS carrying out attacks in Delhi during Republic Day celebrations.
Sources revealed that there are inputs about an ISIS module in Kerala planning to target leaders of Hindu organisations in Southern States, particularly leaders of the BJP and the RSS. The Intelligence agencies also cited a fatwa and reward issued by the All India Majlis-e-Sura of Kolkata for any person who would shave the beard and head of the Prime Minister.
As per data available with security agencies, in all 72 pro-ISIS operatives have been arrested in the last two years from different parts of the country. During interrogation, they revealed that besides others, police and security personnel were among their targets. Officials cited the stabbing of a policeman in Parbhani, Maharashtra and said they were making arrangements to thwart any attempts to ram vehicles into the public at large gatherings.
During the meeting, it was revealed that infiltration and fidayeen attacks this year were the highest in the last ten years.
“The piling up of garbage in East Delhi too has been worrying them as it may attract birds and pose a risk to the aircraft during the flypast at the Republic Day celebrations this year,” sources said.
The Intelligence agencies further expressed concern about the fact that the JNU continues to remain volatile due to the presence of sympathizers of left Wing outfits and that the upcoming Assembly polls in five States might tempt left Wing elements to shout slogans and carry out black flags protests.
Also, given the ongoing Jat stir in Haryana, the security agencies have found that Jat outfits that are holding protests at different places in the State are planning to hold dharnas during the Republic Day. “They may move to Delhi and therefore necessary precautions have to be taken,” sources said.
The security agencies further expressed concern that underground outfits in North Eastern States become active during national functions, which necessitates a constant vigil of their activities. The threat from remote-controlled flying objects will also be factored in while making security arrangements for the function, they added.
According to sources, the presence of Rohingyas, as they are the potential catchment pool for Islamist outfits, and the ISIS, continue to motivate mischievous elements to join ISIS ranks. It was also revealed that Rohingyas in Agra and Aligarh add to the concern.
“Some youth in Noida have a propensity towards left Wing ideology and hence the possibility of their merging into the urban populace cannot be ruled out,” said the sources.