Ahead of Games, Ghaziabad, Noida on terror hitlist

Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gurgaon may see terror attacks in July and August. Following phone intercepts of terrorists’ conversations, a terror alert has been declared in these areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) .

According to the alert from the Union Home Ministry, the terrorists’ plan is to cause panic in the area ahead of the Commonwealth Games and induce the participating countries to withdraw, said an official of the state Anti-Terror Squad (ATS).

Last week, the ministry had convened a meeting of senior ATS officials to share information and discuss steps to foil the terrorists’ plan. Some of the intercepts were played before senior officials to apprise them of the seriousness of the threat, said the official.

Director General of Police Karamvir Singh said he was not aware of any specific alert regarding the Commonwealth Games.

The state Home Secretary Deepak Kumar, however, said Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta held a meeting recently to discuss security during the Games. Directives to step up security have been issued in the NCR and to the concerned agencies.

In the NCR, ATS teams led by an Additional SP have already been deployed and the district police have been told to strengthen patrolling.

An official said the ATS units of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi have been provided with inputs regarding suspects who could be used by terror groups to execute their plans. The units will coordinate, the state officials were told.