The Hindu : Four Hizb militants sneak into Delhi?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2003

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Four Hizb militants sneak into Delhi?

By Devesh K. Pandey

NEW DELHI FEB. 24. Security around U.S. installations across the Capital has been stepped up following intelligence reports about the presence of four members of the Pakistan-backed Hizb-ul-Mujahideen.

According to latest intercepts by the Military Intelligence and subsequent investigations by the Intelligence Bureau, the four militants of Pakistani origin sneaked into Delhi a few days ago with the intention of mounting strikes.

A preliminary probe revealed that they had plans to target India Gate.

The agencies combed suspected hideouts and detained two persons on suspicion that they were accomplices of the terrorists. The duo, who reportedly have scanty details about the operations, were interrogated by the police and officials of intelligence agencies.

Meanwhile, claiming that there was a general alert in view of the ongoing `Dharam Sansad', the police erected barricades on arterial roads to India Gate "C'' Hexagon, particularly Rajpath, fortifying the whole area.

The nearby children's park was also closed. The interrogation of two suspects was on when the police received another input that the terrorist module in question was also planning to target the U.S. Embassy and other U.S. installations such as the American Centre Library.

Subsequently, more armed personnel were deployed in those pockets, mobile patrolling intensified and plain-clothed police personnel deployed to keep track of any suspicious movement.

According to sources, the police were still interrogating the two detenus. It is suspected that in view of the high security, the terrorists might have taken refuge in the bordering areas.

While the Special Cell sleuths have been pressed into action to trace the Hizb militants, barricading on the arterial roads around India Gate continued for the third consecutive day today and vehicles were not allowed in.

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