Pakistani militants reportedly ready to target India

A senior Indian police officer revealed on 6 April that three Pakistani militants and “a local” are travelling in the country intent on targeting Delhi, Goa or Mumbai. Intelligence has identified the make and model of the car in which the group is travelling, as well as the fact that they may be planning to conduct a suicide bombing. The police have been directed to “take all the necessary steps” focusing on checking vehicles, as well as ensuring the security of key targets such as police and security force buildings, religious places, and areas where the public gather such as markets, rail stations and education buildings. Suspected Pakistani militants have previously carried out a number of high-profile attacks in India; in January, militants attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force base in Punjab, killing seven security force personnel.

Three Pakistani militants and “a local” travelling in a car carrying weapons and possibly a suicide belt could target Delhi, Goa or Mumbai, a senior police officer said on Wednesday. Suspected Pakistani terrorists had attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force base on January 2 and killed seven security personnel.(Sameer Sehgal/HT Photo)

“Input received from the Special Cell of the Delhi Police say a grey-coloured Swift Dzire… is likely to cross Banihal Tunnel later today (Wednesday),” television channels reported Punjab director general of police (Law and Order) HS Dhillon as saying. A security alert has been issued, he added.

“You are directed to take all the necessary steps in this regard and specially focus on strict checking of vehicles, security of all vital installation including police buildings and defence establishments, religious places, crowded places such as market areas, malls, railway stations, railway tracks, and educational institutions,” an alert issued by the police said.

Punjab has witnessed two major terror attacks in the past nine months.

Suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked the Pathankot Indian Air Force base on January 2 and killed seven security personnel.

On July 27 last year, three suspected Pakistani terrorists attacked Dinanagar town in Gurdaspur district leaving seven people dead.

Both attacks took place in areas of Punjab bordering Jammu and Kashmir.

With inputs from IANS