India raises Pakistan ‘terror bogey’, left red-faced after plot exposed

Students portrayed as terrorists by India turn out to be Jamia Islamia Imdadia students in Faisalabad

Indian security forces keep the bogey of a Pakistan threat alive. And regrettably, in their media they find a willing partner which thrives on the demonisation of Pakistan. Professional ethics are thrown to the wind when it comes to Pakistan.

The Indians would blame Pakistan for anything and everything that goes wrong in their country. They would even shoot down a pigeon flying over the border, ludicrously calling it ‘Pakistani spy’.

In the latest incident, the Indian police put up posters across New Delhi showing what they called two ‘Pakistani terrorists’ on the prowl in the capital to carry out a Mumbai-style attack.

For the Indian media, it was godsend at a time when it was looking for something sensational to sell on the 10th anniversary of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai.



However, the Indian police and media had to face huge embarrassment when it turned out that the “two terrorists” who they claimed were on the prowl in Delhi are seminary students — Muhammad Tayyab and Nadeem — and that they are at their home in Faisalabad district of Punjab.

To add insult to injury, the two students, along with their teachers, addressed a hurriedly called news conference to expose India’s white lie.

At the presser, Maulana Muhammad Zahid, an official from the Jamia Islamia Imdadia, the seminary where Tayyab and Nadeem are enrolled, said that the two students were photographed with a milestone after the visited Lahore to attend the tableeghi ijtima in Raiwind, Lahore.

He clarified that the two young men, who belong to Azad Kashmir, are students of Dars-e-Nizami, at Jamia Islamia Imdadia and that they did not belong to any terrorist group.

“We are very specific about not letting our students indulge in any political or religious affairs as long as they are affiliated with our institution,” he added. “If they [Indians] are scared of pigeons, then they will obviously be scared of maulvis,” he said amusingly.



On their part, the students said they were in Jamia Islamia Imdadia for education and that the Indian government was only trying to malign Pakistan. They added that they and the seminary administration decided to clear the air after the Indian police created a hype based on the photo they had shared on Facebook.

According to the Indian media, Delhi was put on high alert after intelligence agencies had informed that two suspected terrorists from the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group are in the city and may seek to carry out an attack.

According to The Hindustan Times, the Delhi police released a photo where the “two terrorists” are seen leaning on a milestone that reads Firozpur 9 kilometres and Delhi 360 kilometres. “Anybody who spots them is requested to call Paharganj police station on 011-23520787 or 011-2352474,” read the police advisory.

The police said they were keeping a check on all the hotels, lodges and guesthouse that have foreign customers besides stepping up vigilance at the entry points to the city.