India on high alert over possible Pakistan revenge strike
In backdrops of "surgical strikes" on terror launch pads across the de facto border in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Indian authorities yesterday issued an alert for stepping up vigil at different important places across the country.
The country's home ministry asked the authorities concerned to keep vigil at strategic installations, industrial complexes, crowded places, airports, historical monuments and government buildings throughout the country, reports Times of India.
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The alert identified Delhi, along with Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra and Gujarat as possible targets for Pakistan-based terror outfits in response to the Thursday's surgical strikes.
Intelligence sources, citing credible inputs, said there was a strong possibility of Pakistan's ISI directing a highly motivated and heavily armed terror cell to carry out a strike in the capital Delhi, the newspaper reports.
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A hunt has been launched for suspected terrorists, pushed into J&K some time ago, who have now been asked to carry out a swift retaliatory strike against the Indian raid on terror launch pads in PoK.
Home minister Rajnath Singh held a security review yesterday where intelligence inputs on the "serious" threat of a spectacular strike by fidayeen hiding in the country or likely to enter through the land borders or the sea route, was discussed, according to TOI.
The home ministry advisory said Pakistan-backed terror outfits may try to execute a major "revenge" strike in the coming days.
Sources said participants in the review meeting -- national security advisor AK Doval, home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and chiefs of Intelligence Bureau and RAW -- also examined the possibility of terrorists targeting private enterprises to avenge the Indian raids.
Besides fidayeen strikes involving Pakistani terrorists who have infiltrated, the meeting also took into account the possibility of attacks by jihadi cells comprising radicalised locals promoted by ISI as part of Pakistan's "proxy war" against India, adds the report.
The threat posed by these groups has decreased since some of their cells were neutralised while others switched their allegiance to Islamic State. But local sleeper cells which take their cue from ISI have not been totally eliminated and could be activated, the agencies fear.
The fact that October is packed with festivals was highlighted in the advisory which sought tighter police deployment at crowded places and puja pandals. Apart from this, CISF has been tasked with tightening security at airports and monuments such as Taj Mahal and Red Fort.
Tighter access control has been sought at all buildings housing key government offices, particularly in the national capital.
An intelligence officer said the state of high alert across the country may continue through October. "A retaliation by Pakistan to the surgical strikes is foreseen over the next 10-15 days. However, given that Diwali falls on October 30, the alert will last till then," he told TOI.