Punjab attack & Yakub hanging add to force's Independence Day worries; Delhi cops on high alert

NEW DELHI: In a clear indication that intelligence agencies have got a whiff of specific threats, all Delhi Police personnel have been asked to keep their weapons "ready" through Thursday. The alert came less than 12 hours before the Supreme Court rejected Yakub Memon's mercy plea escalating fears of a terror strike in the capital.

In the message conveyed to all DCPs on Wednesday evening, not just PCR vans but all police vehicles will keep long- and short-range weapons through Thursday. The orders may be extended, sources said given the fact that Independence Day was around the corner.

The current threat, a source said, pertains to agencies indicating a strong possibility of a faction, which may have defected from the trio involved in the strike in Punjab, heading to other parts of north India. TOI was the first to report about security agencies receiving inputs that a group of around 8-10 men may have infiltrated and another may still be at large.

There are at least two-three men suspected to be "armed and dangerous" and could belong to either the group which was killed in Punjab or a separate module of Fidayeens. "We cannot dismiss the possibility that the leftover group was waiting for final orders on Yakub's fate before executing their plan," a source said.

Police have asked railway police and staff at stations and tracks to maintain vigil. Gangmen and linemen have been asked to keep a watch over their area and patrol the tracks through the day. Bus stands will also be under high security cover.

The police commissioner held a meeting with all senior officers and asked them to take precautions. On Thursday, there will be special patrolling in crowded markets. Cops will also activate the "eyes and ears scheme", involving locals in policing, to get information about suspicious movements of people and objects in different areas.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police held an inter-state coordination meeting with police chiefs of neighbouring states and decided to keep a watch on vehicles entering the city from the western borders. These steps are being taken in a run-up to security for Independence Day. Special surveillance would be mounted on Kanwar devotees during this time as well.

Traffic police have been asked to stop non-destined vehicles from entering the city over the next fortnight. A 200-member commando unit armed with short and long range weapons would also be kept at the disposal of DCPs.

Senior officers of Delhi Police and their counterparts from Haryana, Punjab, Utter Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, J&K and Chandigarh attended the meeting during which circumstances like hostage situations were discussed.

Cops have also requested for 100 companies of paramilitary forces to be on alert. Armoured vehicles and quick reaction teams will be deployed in New Delhi, central and north districts. All police stations have already started checking hotels, guesthouses, and cyber cafes.