New Delhi: Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi today urged Delhiites not to pay heed to rumours floating on WhatsApp and other social media while assuring them that the force is alert to avert any possible terror strike in the national capital.
Replying to a question about the recent alert issued by the Home Ministry, saying that the LeT may target two unspecified hotels in Delhi, Bassi said, “I don't want to go into specifics but we have received alerts and intelligence inputs. We have briefed concerned officers and steps are being taken enhance security.”
When asked about a message going around on WhatsApp and other social media predicting the day of terror attack in the city, Bassi said that Delhiites should not believe rumours that are floating around.
The police chief also said that strict action will be taken against those spreading such rumours. “Whatever is required to make the city secure is being done and no one needs to worry,” he added.
Delhi Police is on a high alert and security has been beefed up at prominent 5 star hotels, schools, colleges and malls in the national capital in the wake of the advisory issued by the Home Ministry and brutal terror attack in an Army-run school at Peshawar in Pakistan in which more than 140 people, mostly children were killed.
A heightened security is visible in the city with SWAT teams positioned outside important installations. Several quick reaction team (QRT) and quick response vehicle (QRV) have been asked to remain on standby to deal with any eventuality.
Given the intelligence input about possible terror strike, Delhi police, fire department, bomb squad and other disaster management agencies are conducting mock drills at prominent places like India Habitat Centre, malls, metro stations among others to hone their skills to handle any eventuality.
One such mock drill was conducted at a prominent 5 star hotel in southeast Delhi's Nehru Place last evening.
Delhi Police has already issued a set of guidelines to schools and colleges asking them to keep their gates shut when they have students inside, deploy guards and allow entry to people only after proper verification.
PCR vans have been positioned close to prominent schools and colleges in the city and beat constables will also patrol the area.
“It was a café in Sydney and a school in Peshawar. Terrorists may target anything at any place. We are not taking chances and security has been tightened at all important installations like schools, colleges, embassies, metro stations, 5 star hotels, crowded markets in south and central Delhi, airport, malls, cafes among others,” said a senior police official.
As it was an army-run school which was attacked in Peshawar, army schools in the city and those in the Cantonment and diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri have been given a specific security cover, he said.
Delhi Police top brass has asked all district DCsP to take enhanced security measures at schools and colleges under their jurisdiction area.
We have also made an elaborate plan under which mobile hit teams and SWAT will be deployed at strategic locations who can reach such installations within five minutes in case of any untoward incident.
Vigil was heightened in the national capital on Monday especially at public places like malls, in the wake of the hostage crisis in Australia's Sydney.
According to a senior police official, security was stepped up in popular malls and areas which have clusters of cafes and restaurants yesterday as it was a popular café which was targeted in Sydney.
A red alert was sounded in the city on December 5 over intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike. The force is on its toes these days ahead of Christmas and New Year which would be followed by the visit of US President Barack Obama to India.
The presence of Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with a host of dignitaries at the Republic Day parade is going to be a never-before high-stakes event for security agencies.
