Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI306
2007-01-19 12:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA ON ALERT AS USUAL FOR REPUBLIC DAY THREATS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000306
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC KDEM KISL PK IN
SUBJECT: INDIA ON ALERT AS USUAL FOR REPUBLIC DAY THREATS
NEW DELHI 00000306 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Atul Keshap, Reason 1.5 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000306
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC KDEM KISL PK IN
SUBJECT: INDIA ON ALERT AS USUAL FOR REPUBLIC DAY THREATS
NEW DELHI 00000306 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Atul Keshap, Reason 1.5 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary. As India's Republic Day fast approaches,
security in the capital and the country's largest cities has
increased to its highest level as Indians prepare for a
significant national holiday. Airports remain on alert as
press reports surfaced of threats, over the January 13-14
weekend, that Pakistan-based terrorists were plotting to
hijack an Indian plane. Press reports say also that New
Delhi's Special Police Cell arrested two Harakat ul-Islami
members plotting a largescale strike in the capital for
Republic Day. The two were reportedly carrying Rs. 4.5 lakh
(approximately $10,000),a detonator, a timer, and enough
weapons grade explosives (1.6 kg of RDX) to cause a large
explosion. Arrests of this kind are not unusual for India,
with two Lashkar-e-Taiba members arrested on New Years Eve in
New Delhi carrying similar explosives and plotting similar
attacks. They are a reminder that the lull in terrorist
incidents since the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings and
September 2006 Malegan mosque attack may be due more to
recent successes by India's security forces than to a
reduction in the terrorist threat. End Summary.
Bracing Again for the Worst
--------------
2. (C) The Deputy Commissioner of Police for New Delhi tells
our RSO that his forces are taking special precautions in
preparation for Republic Day, including increasing police
deployments, especially surrounding government buildings and
the January 26th parade route, and that they are setting up
checks on surrounding roads. This adds to the usual high
level of security in the capital.
A Disturbing Trend
--------------
3. (C) Terrorism expert Dr. Ajai Sahni told PolOff that the
arrests this week are part of a continuos process in India in
recent years. His organization, the Institute for Conflict
Management, has tracked more than 75 arrests of a similar
nature in New Delhi in the past year alone. Most of the
suspects, he says, are picked up carrying similar amounts of
RDX, with plans to carry out a range of possible attacks in
Indian cities. Dr. Sahni claims that the majority of these
terrorists infiltrate into India through Bangladesh after
they receive training in Pakistan. Although his organization
has been tracking similar arrests since 1998, he notes that
there has been a significant rise in arrests outside of Jammu
and Kashmir since 2003. If you focus on the number of
successful terrorist attacks in India, he says, you will only
see the tip of the iceberg in terms of the threat India faces.
Business As Usual, Unfortunately
--------------
4. (C) Comment: The red alerts issued every year in
preparation for Republic Day demonstrates the ongoing concern
that Indians have for their security as Pakistan-based
terrorists continue to build terrorist networks in the Indian
heartland. Any one of the cells India has disrupted in the
past year could have engaged in attacks similar to the Mumbai
bombings or the 2005 Diwali attacks in New Delhi's most
popular markets. Although police sources consistently tell
us they have no indication that the terrorists they arrest
are targeting Americans, members of the American community in
NEW DELHI 00000306 002.2 OF 002
New Delhi are invited to watch the Republic Day parade. With
careful preparation and good luck, hopefully this year's
observation across India will be peaceful.
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PINR ASEC KDEM KISL PK IN
SUBJECT: INDIA ON ALERT AS USUAL FOR REPUBLIC DAY THREATS
NEW DELHI 00000306 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Acting PolCouns Atul Keshap, Reason 1.5 (B,D)
1. (C) Summary. As India's Republic Day fast approaches,
security in the capital and the country's largest cities has
increased to its highest level as Indians prepare for a
significant national holiday. Airports remain on alert as
press reports surfaced of threats, over the January 13-14
weekend, that Pakistan-based terrorists were plotting to
hijack an Indian plane. Press reports say also that New
Delhi's Special Police Cell arrested two Harakat ul-Islami
members plotting a largescale strike in the capital for
Republic Day. The two were reportedly carrying Rs. 4.5 lakh
(approximately $10,000),a detonator, a timer, and enough
weapons grade explosives (1.6 kg of RDX) to cause a large
explosion. Arrests of this kind are not unusual for India,
with two Lashkar-e-Taiba members arrested on New Years Eve in
New Delhi carrying similar explosives and plotting similar
attacks. They are a reminder that the lull in terrorist
incidents since the July 2006 Mumbai train bombings and
September 2006 Malegan mosque attack may be due more to
recent successes by India's security forces than to a
reduction in the terrorist threat. End Summary.
Bracing Again for the Worst
--------------
2. (C) The Deputy Commissioner of Police for New Delhi tells
our RSO that his forces are taking special precautions in
preparation for Republic Day, including increasing police
deployments, especially surrounding government buildings and
the January 26th parade route, and that they are setting up
checks on surrounding roads. This adds to the usual high
level of security in the capital.
A Disturbing Trend
--------------
3. (C) Terrorism expert Dr. Ajai Sahni told PolOff that the
arrests this week are part of a continuos process in India in
recent years. His organization, the Institute for Conflict
Management, has tracked more than 75 arrests of a similar
nature in New Delhi in the past year alone. Most of the
suspects, he says, are picked up carrying similar amounts of
RDX, with plans to carry out a range of possible attacks in
Indian cities. Dr. Sahni claims that the majority of these
terrorists infiltrate into India through Bangladesh after
they receive training in Pakistan. Although his organization
has been tracking similar arrests since 1998, he notes that
there has been a significant rise in arrests outside of Jammu
and Kashmir since 2003. If you focus on the number of
successful terrorist attacks in India, he says, you will only
see the tip of the iceberg in terms of the threat India faces.
Business As Usual, Unfortunately
--------------
4. (C) Comment: The red alerts issued every year in
preparation for Republic Day demonstrates the ongoing concern
that Indians have for their security as Pakistan-based
terrorists continue to build terrorist networks in the Indian
heartland. Any one of the cells India has disrupted in the
past year could have engaged in attacks similar to the Mumbai
bombings or the 2005 Diwali attacks in New Delhi's most
popular markets. Although police sources consistently tell
us they have no indication that the terrorists they arrest
are targeting Americans, members of the American community in
NEW DELHI 00000306 002.2 OF 002
New Delhi are invited to watch the Republic Day parade. With
careful preparation and good luck, hopefully this year's
observation across India will be peaceful.
MULFORD