City courts under terror threat

The police have specific intelligence that terrorists might attack courts in Delhi over the next two weeks, reports Abhishek Bhalla.

The police have specific intelligence that terrorists might attack courts in Delhi over the next two weeks. The information has put them on high alert: security has been tightened at all public places, and all points of entry into Delhi are being watched.

HT Image

Terrorists struck court premises in three UP towns in coordinated bombings that killed 14 people on November 23. Minutes before the serial attacks, an email went out from a Delhi cybercafe announcing a reprisal against lawyers ‘opposing’ the jihadi cause.

“Information received from the Intelligence Bureau says terrorists might strike court complexes in Delhi, similar to bomb blasts in courts in UP recently,” a senior police officer said.

Rajan Bhagat, Delhi Police spokesman, said: “As per the intelligence input, we have intensified security at public places and strategic locations.”

Delhi has four lower court complexes at Tees Hazari, Patiala House, Karkardooma and Rohini besides the High Court and Supreme Court, attended by several thousand people daily. The courts have no closed-circuit TV or other security apparatus.