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| Leading politicians' relatives to be targeted | | Terror groups for Afzal Guru's early freedom | | BL KAK
NEW DELHI, FEB 11 Even as security within and outside the Tihar Jail in west Delhi has further been tightened in addition to a close watch on the cell housing the much-talked-about Kashmiri militant, Afzal Guru, the government has fears vis-a-vis the safety and security of some close relatives of leading politicians in Jammu and Kashmir and in the national capital as well. In other words, if the terror groups succceed in abducting any VIP or close relation of a prominent political figure, possibility of a repeat of the Kandahar event cannot be ruled out.
In recent days, this issue was discussed, on more than one occasion, by the top-ranking officials of the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of Home Affairs, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Hence, the Union Home Ministry had sufficient rerasons as it sent out, without any fanfare, a message to Jammu and Kashmir and Delhi administration, drawing their atention to the re-structured plan of the terror groups to target relatives of select politicians and Ministers in the coming days.
According to intelligence inputs, Jammu and Kashmir-based terror groups intend to target relatives of select politicians not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in the Delhi region. At a time when the Union government has not taken a final decision on the mercy petition of Kashmiri militant, Afzal Guru, forwarded to the Home Ministry by the Rashtrapati Bhawan, anti-India trouble-makers seem keen to adopt all means, fair and foul, in support of Guru's freedom.
No wonder, a senior Central government offical, who did not want to be identified, said: "We have specific information that terrorists are planning to kidnap the kith and kin of some select politicians. With this, they can demand clemency for Mohammad Afzal Guru. We also believe there could be fidayeen (suicide) attacks". Afzal, a prime accused in the 2001 Parliament attack, was given the death sentence by a Delhi court last year for his involvement in the conspiracy.
The offical had a sensational piece of information: "This time it is not politicians who are on the terror radar but their family members. It is a change of strategy and we suspect they want to bargain for Afzal". The message sent to Jammu and Kashmir has urged the local administration to make "effective" measures for the protection of family members of VIPs. These VIPs have been identifed as two former Chief Ministers, Farooq Abdullah and Mufti Mohamed Sayeed.
The official said in reply to a question: It was not without a specific reason when the Prime Minister quietly ordered convening of a high-level meeting on the cruciual issue of stepping up security for important political leaders in Delhi, including Sonia Gandhi and her parliamentarian son, Rahul Gandhi. The meeting which was chaired by the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, reviewed the security cover of VIPs.
Prime Minister's Man Friday and National Security Advisor, MK Narayanan, played a key role in arranging the meeting. The meting was atended by MK Narayanan, VK Duggal, Home Secretary, chiefs of National Security Guard (NSG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Director of Special Protection Group (SPG).
The meeting had a detailed discussion on the potential threat of abducting relatives of VIPs and other important politcal leaders as a trade-off for Afzal Guru. The CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) is already guarding 20-odd dignitaries. The second ring of security around Prime Minister is manned by the CRPF.
The motive of the terror groups is to trigger turmoil that would make authorites rethink about the decision to hang Afzal. Afzal was scheduled to be hanged on Friday (October 20, 2006), but execution was delayed amid fierce debate raging in the country for and against it
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