New Delhi: Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today said the national capital has always been on high alert but refrained from disclosing details about the presence of terrorists of any particular outfit unless they are arrested.
“People in Delhi must be aware that a terrorist can be living and operating from their next door… Terrorists can sneak into Delhi any day. Delhi has always been, it is and shall always be a target for terrorists,” Bassi said at the annual conference of Delhi Police.
When asked specifically about the presence of two Jaish-e-Mohammad key members in Delhi and the reports surrounding the fact, Bassi said: “I will never share specific inputs about presence of terrorists from any particular outfit. I will share details only when we arrest any of them, otherwise not.”
“However, if people become alert following certain media reports, it is a totally acceptable situation for me,” he said.
Delhi Police had arrested six alleged terrorists in 2015, which include operatives of al Qaeda in Indian sub-continent (AQIS), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), police records reveal.
“We are always in touch with central intelligence agencies and enhancing our counter terrorism mechanism at the local police level. Today, we have built enough capacity in every district to counter any form of emergency,” he said.
Two Jaish-e-Mohammed militants were suspected to have sneaked into the national capital and planning high-profile attacks, including taking hostages, following which security was stepped up in the city, a day after the Pathankot Air Base strike by the same Pakistan-based outfit.
Delhi Police received specific intelligence input about the presence of militants, following which Bassi appealed the citizens to be vigilant.
“Citizens’ vigil against suspicious persons/objects/ activities is vital to counter terrorism. Report anything amiss no. 100 or helpline 1090,” he tweeted yesterday.
According to a senior police official, Bassi held a meeting with its top brass yesterday and the department sought help of central paramilitary forces in providing security, especially around vital installations in the city.
In 2015, Special Cell of Delhi Police had registered FIR in connection with LeT operatives and modules recruiting for ISIS from the national capital.