IB reveals plot to kill PM, Advani

NEW DELHI: The Intelligence Bureau has revealed terrorist plots to kill Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani around Republic Day. A warning to this effect has been issued to the Special Cell of the Delhi Police by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Plans to launch a fidayeen attack on Vajpayee has been made by Abu Hassan, Lashkar-e-Taiba commander of Srinagar.

The intelligence agencies also said the Bangladesh-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jehad (LeJ) and the underworld gang led by Chhota Shakeel have plans to kill Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani around that time.

Sources in IB said the LeJ, which has the support of the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (ULTA), and the members of underworld don Shakeel, are planning to infiltrate the Sangh Parivar using “Hindu names”.

Regarding a possible threat to Vajpayee, a senior special cell officer said: “According to the intelligence input we received, one Abdul Rehaman was asked to carry out a suicide attack during the month of Ramzan, but it did not materialise. The strategy was two-pronged — to attack the Prime Minister and foment communal tension during Ramzan.”

This time, the intelligence agencies have said that they are again ready to carry out an attack during the Republic Day celebrations.

“They are planning to enter the city at least in five groups. Each group will have a minimum of seven people,” said the source.

The LeT militants are transporting weapons including rocket launchers to Delhi in oil tankers, with the intention to assassinate political leaders.

“Advani is the most threatened VVIP,” said a police officer. “There have been terrorist modules foiled by various intelligence agencies, including the Delhi Police, posing threats to his life. The LeT terrorists have been trying to kill the deputy Prime Minister for some time now.”

He referred to the killing of a suspected LeT terrorist, Sadiq Jamal Mehtar, in Ahmedabad on Monday. The IB had tipped off the state Crime Branch that Mehtar was planning to kill Advani and Chief Minister Narendra Modi. —TOI

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