Gujarat, New Delhi on high alert over terror threat

Indian media claims Pakistan tipped off about infiltration of terrorists

India’s capital and western Gujarat state were put on high alert on Sunday after officials claimed they have received intelligence that 10 terrorists might have sneaked in from Pakistan.



Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua has apparently sent an alert about terrorists planning to strike in Gujarat during the Shivaratri festival, according to NDTV.



Tens of thousands of Indians celebrate the annual Shivaratri festival in Gujarat in reverence of the Hindu deity Shiva.

India’s intelligence agencies warned the terrorists could be from the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) or Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militant group. New Delhi blames the LeT for the 2008 Mumbai siege, and the JeM for the Jan 2 Pathankot assault.

After receiving the tip-off, security was put on high alert in Gujarat, and Indian security agencies mounted search operations at many locations, including in Kutch, which shares a border with Pakistan. Similar operations were also carried out along Gujarat’s border with Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.



Four teams, comprising around 25 men of National Security Guard (NSG), India’s elite special forces, were also sent to Gujarat to bolster security at vital installations.

State Home Minister Rajnikant Patel, while confirming receipt of intelligence reports, said they have cancelled leaves of policemen and were checking cars and buses on highways and at the entrance of major cities and towns, the Associated Press reported.

Patel said they have found some abandoned fishing boats near the coast over the past few days, raising suspicions  that militants from Pakistan might have entered Gujarat by sea. He added that security patrols have been increased along Gujarat’s coastline.

State police chief PC Thakur said there were three main pilgrimage sites in the state which pilgrims throng on Maha Shivratri, including Somnath, Nageshwar Jyotirling in Dwarka and Bhavnath in Junagadh.



“Four teams of NSG reached here last (Saturday) night. Out of these, three will remain here [in Gandhinagar], while one team will go to Somnath, which is one of the most important pilgrimage places in Gujarat,” Times of India quoted Thakur as saying.

He added that they had started search operations in addition to setting up checkpoints

A top Indian army commander claimed there were ‘disturbing inputs’ about a possible terror attack in the country aimed at creating ‘maximum impact’ during the Shivratri festival and the ongoing parliament session.

“There are inputs which are disturbing but notwithstanding extra care has been taken,” Western Army Commander Lt Gen KJ Singh said without sharing details.

Deadly clash in Kashmir

Indian security forces claimed they have killed two suspected militants in an alleged encounter in disputed Jammu and Kashmir state Sunday evening.

Times of India reported that at least one army official has been injured in the clash as they targeted militants who were believed to be hiding in a house in Kulgam district.

A joint team of security forces, comprising army, Central Reserve Police Force and Special Operation Group of Kashmir police, launched a massive door-to-door search operation for two to three suspected militants in Kulgam.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2016.