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| Security tightened around foreign missions | | US Embassy could be suicide squads' target | | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, JULY 15: Pressure on the police and intelligence agencies across Delhi has considerably increased, with growing fears of terrorist strikes on some vital installations, including some foreign missions. Police have tightened security around half a dozen embassies fearing suicide attacks on them.
Police sources said that intelligence agencies have cautioned Delhi Police that the US Embassy is the target of some suicide squads that may currently be holed up in the capital or its neighbourhood, where several militant organisations have set up modules.
Police are taking intelligence inputs seriously, especially in the wake of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's disclosure that his government had received warning about possible attacks in Mumbai. The July 11 serial blasts in Mumbai's suburban trains killed nearly 200 persons, as the police did not act swiftly on the tip off.
Delhi Police commissioner, K.K. Paul, has issued instructions to increase security around the diplomatic missions on the terrorist radar. Chanakyapuri-based US Embassy is receiving the most attention. Eight additional police pickets have been raised about the US Embassy, while three more police control room vans are patrolling the Embassy's periphery. Two sections of the specialised Rapid Action Force(RAF) are also stationed at the Embassy to keep a watch on all visitors.
Sources said that the tip-off was that an Afghan-based terrorist with links to the banned Al Qaida was likely to target the US chancery. Al Qaida announced setting up of its base in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. They point out that all suicide attacks in the country have been carried out by "Pakistani nationals" with links to either the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
It is feared that instead of depending on LeT or JeM, Al Qaida wants to make its presence felt in India, especially in the national capital where it may get assistance from fugitive underworld elements. Sources quoting intelligence agencies said that Al Qaida had specially trained some Afghan nationals to attack the US Embassy, since they are uncomfortable with the growing ties between the United States and India and are looking for an opportunity to strike American installations. Police have increased security around the Israeli embassy and the British High Commission.
Delhi Police had arrested a Kashmiri terrorist from south Delhi on July 11 and seized from him a huge consignment of the deadly RDX and Rs 4.9 million in cash, which he was supposed to supply to terrorists based in the national capital.
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