Intelligence agencies of the Union government have unearthed a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) conspiracy to attack one or more venues of the ongoing World Cup cricket matches in India. Specific inputs have been communicated to Tamil Nadu and other States, where the matches are to be played.
Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs told The Hindu on Monday that inputs received through “sensitive channels” indicated that in October 2010, the Pakistan-based LeT cadre, Zaibuddin Ansari, or his associates researched information pertaining to explosive chemical substances and the stadiums where the 2011 World Cup matches were to be played.
The suspects allegedly analysed eight cricket stadiums in India, including the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore and M.A. Chidambaram Stadium at Chepauk in Chennai, the sources said.
“We have been given an alert that Ansari and his associates researched the composition for chemicals known to be used in explosives, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium nitrate fuel oil and pentaerythritol tetranirate (PETN). They seem to have showed more interest in the manufacture of lead styphnate, which is used in the manufacture of different nitro compounds in explosives,” a senior police officer said. Intelligence agencies sent copies of dossiers containing the photographs and profiles of notorious and absconding extremist elements to enable the law enforcement agencies to keep a watch during the matches.
About the security arrangements in Chennai, where matches have been scheduled for March 17 and 20, Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said the police had intensified anti-sabotage checks. “We will have strict access control. Vehicles mounted with speed-dome cameras would be stationed on all roads leading to the stadium. The police have insisted that vehicle passes should have the registration numbers mentioned,” he said.
Mr. Rajendran said a special team conducted surprise checks in lodges, mansions and guesthouses at Triplicane, near the match venue. “Adequate security arrangements are being made at the hotels where the players would stay. Vehicle-checks and night patrolling have been intensified. Special emphasis is on providing security along the perimeter of the stadium,” he said.
