Red threat over Capital, NCR towns

Red trouble looms over the Commonwealth Games if the security agencies are to be believed. The Delhi Police as well as the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad are now hunting for naxal 'sleeper cells' in the Capital and UP.

Red trouble looms over the Commonwealth Games if the security agencies are to be believed.

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According to them, after the arrest of Kobad Ghandy and a number of Maoists in the Capital, the Naxals are planning to strike in a big way to take revenge over the arrests and the recent encounter of Azad Cherukuri Rajkumar in Andhra Pradesh. Senior police officers said Naxal leaders have made a hit list of 51 VIPs ranging from senior bureaucrats to top political leaders who could be targeted in the days to come. Alarmingly around 17 of these VIPs are in Delhi.

The Delhi Police as well as the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad are now hunting for naxal 'sleeper cells' in the Capital and UP.

“There has been a lot of naxal movement after Azad's encounter. We have information that they have made a hit list and plan to disrupt the Commonwealth Games,” said a senior UP Police officer on condition of anonymity.

Till July this year, the Delhi police had registered five cases against the 10 arrested Maoists and 23 cases against the 55 arrested terrorists.

Police said Abdul Salim, a member of the banned CPI-Maoist who was arrested in RK Puram in June, them that the Maoists were on a major recruitment drive in the Capital and neighbouring states like UP.

“From his questioning, we have found that they are looking for educated young men. He said men are being sent to training camps across Jharkhand to be trained in combat and Naxal ideology,” said a senior police officer on condition of anonymity. Meanwhile, the Delhi p said they are prepared for any situation. Armed response teams have been deployed across Delhi to check Maoist activity.

The Delhi Police is also conducting terrorist-related intelligence and security audit of vital installations conducted. Regular checking of cyber cafes, guesthouses, also continues.