New Delhi: In light of intelligence reports indicating potential threats to railway infrastructure, security measures have been intensified at key transit hubs and surrounding areas in the city. Fresh intelligence indicates Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) may have tasked Delhi-based assets to conduct immediate reconnaissance of key railway infrastructure in the capital.The threat adds to an alert sounded in connection with a message floated on Signal application by terror ideologue Farhatullah Ghori inciting Indian Muslims to join the ‘Army of Mahdi’, raise the banner of Islam over the national capital, and carry out sabotage and suicide attacks on ‘infidels’ and their families.There has been a series of critical security inputs gathered over recent weeks pointing to a coordinated push by cross-border outfits. Intelligence received on Aug 11 indicated that a Pakistan-based entity, operating with ties to ISI and pro-Khalistan elements like Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), was planning to deliver an IED to unknown associates in NCR within the next few days.Similarly, a May 25 communication to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) control room warned ISI was plotting six major blasts across India, with eight operatives linked to Talha Saeed having already entered the country. Earlier in May, intelligence agencies flagged plans by ISI to leverage established criminal and gangster networks to launch strikes on high-value buildings and infrastructure in Delhi.Additional alerts dating back to April and Feb pointed to Pakistan- and PoK-based terror groups targeting Delhi, Jammu, Rajasthan and the Parliament, as well as Lashkar-e-Taiba plans for IED blasts. Concurrently, Jaish-e-Mohammed has been actively luring youth through a social media handle named ‘Islah-e-Ummat’ to incite attacks on prominent dignitaries and key installations.Security has been significantly stepped up following revelations that terror modules operated by Pakistan-based gangster-terrorist Shehzad Bhatti had installed clandestine CCTV networks around major railway stations to monitor troop movements and security deployments. In light of these surveillance attempts, cops said they had swept railway premises, deployed extra quick response teams and placed armed personnel on round-the-clock vigil across all major transit hubs in the capital.All strategic border entry points into Delhi are set to be sealed by Thursday night, with intensive vehicle checking and verification drives underway. Security agencies have placed a special focus on counter-drone measures and aerial surveillance to thwart any low-altitude aerial threats over sensitive installations.Meanwhile, the number of rooftops where security personnel are being deployed has increased from 268 last year to 338 this year. As part of the security arrangements, police will also deploy body-worn cameras for personnel on the ground.ENDS
