03 May,2010 08:21 AM IST | | Prawesh Lama
Recent intelligence reports suggest that terrorists are deliberately leaking communication to spread panic
Over the past few weeks, security agencies have intercepted cross-border communication between militant groups on several occasions. But a senior Intelligence Bureau (IB) official claims that the messages have become more frequent and much clearer to decipher.
Between the 20th and 23rd of April, the agencies had seized a similar message warning of terror attacks in the capital and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh.
"In the last few months, a lot of communication has been intercepted and the coding is also quite simple. Normally the encryptions are difficult to decipher but the last few messages have been quite easy to decode and understand. This can be a deliberate plan to create panic among the public," said a senior IB official.
According to sources, the frequency of inputs from various agencies has increased, especially with the countdown towards the Commonwealth Games.
According to an official from the Special Cell, about a month ago, they had received an input from the IB that some members of a terrorist group were planning to strike at a few places in the capital. An officer working with the IB said, "The main motto of the terrorists these days is to create panic and cripple the economy.
From the various inputs that we have received it appears as if they are deliberately leaking info to stop foreigners from coming to the city. They do not want the capital to have an influx of tourists around the Commonwealth Games. Maybe they want to show the world through the media that Delhi is not safe."
Meanwhile, the capital remained a fortress for yet another day. Not just the market places, almost all police officials were patrolling their specified areas through Sunday. The police stations had brought in reinforcements for added measure. "The Delhi Police is taking appropriate steps to deal with the threat. We appeal the public to be vigilant and cooperate with the police and inform the nearest police station or toll free number 1090 on noticing any suspicious object, person or vehicle," said Rajan Bhagat, Public Relations Officer, Delhi Police.
Grip of fear
The US, British, Australian and other Western embassies have issued urgent alerts advising their nationals to avoid busy parts of Delhi.
The US embassy posted an advisory on its website on Saturday warning: "There are increased indications that terrorists are planning imminent attacks in New Delhi." It named popular city centre shopping zones such as Connaught Place as "especially attractive targets for terrorist groups".
