Youth held for triggering terror panic in Delhi

May 02, 2010 01:22 pm | Updated November 28, 2021 09:02 pm IST - Srinagar

A foreigner passes through a metal detector as she enters Paharganj, in Delhi on Saturday. The U.S. Embassy said terrorists are planning "imminent attacks" in the capital and warned Americans there to be vigilant.

A foreigner passes through a metal detector as she enters Paharganj, in Delhi on Saturday. The U.S. Embassy said terrorists are planning "imminent attacks" in the capital and warned Americans there to be vigilant.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained a youth alleged to be the brain behind spreading panic by making calls claiming that blasts will be carried out in crowded markets of Delhi, which had prompted even the United States to issue a travel warning.

Highly-placed sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department said that the man was detained in the wee hours after a massive manhunt was launched to nab him.

Last week, the security agencies had monitored his activities including his conversation with one Furqan, suspected to be a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative across the border, and claiming that a group had entered India through Bangladesh and Nepal to carry out blasts in the national capital.

He is alleged to have been roped in by overground workers of separatist and terror groups for making such frivolous calls and creating panic among the intelligence agencies and unrest in other parts of the country, the sources said.

The Kashmiri youth had earlier also misguided the intelligence agencies by indulging in these kinds of acts, they said.

However, in absence of any stringent law, he managed to walk free, the sources said.

The successive warden notices issued by the U.S. and sharing of intelligence by the American authorities raised eyebrows this time following which the authorities decided to get to the bottom of the case.

The U.S. had issued a fresh advisory warning of “imminent” terror attacks in New Delhi, particularly in busy market places like Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and Chandni Chowk, which are “attractive targets” for terrorist groups.

“This warden message provides updated information related to the April 21, 2010 warden message and additional information related to the travel alert issued for India on April 16, 2010,” the renewed advisory primarily intended for American citizens in India had said and also pointed out that there were “increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi.”

While countries like the U.K. and Australia were quick to follow, issuing travel alerts, Delhi Police went on high alert increasing its presence at all important places in the national capital, especially the markets mentioned in the advisories issued by the respective countries.

In the meantime, the Kashmiri youth, who was picked up after series of night-long raids by the Jammu and Kashmir Police, is understood to have told his interrogators that he had been promised money for creating such panic.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.