Additional director general (special branch) Rajesh Chandra said on Monday there were advance information from the Intelligence Bureau and “several other agencies” that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi could be targeted by the Indian Mujahideen (IM).
Chandra said all terms of protocol set down for the security of an NSG mobile protectee, which Modi is entitled to, were followed and it would be wrong to say that adequate measures were not taken.
“The stage had both a portable and vehicle-mounted jammer, besides a sniffer dog squad. We also wanted a bullet-proof podium, but the Gujarat police did not want that,” he told HT.
According to the IB letter, the high-threat perception to Modi was clearly mentioned though there was no specific input regarding any attack.
“In the mobile interception of talks between Pakistan-based terrorist Shahid alias Bilal, an alleged ISI agent, with the IM, it was discovered that 'Machali-5' (code name for Gujarat CM) was on their hit list. SIMI (Students’ Islamic Movement of India) activists in Madhya Pradesh have formed a ‘shaheen force’ to target Modi and they could try to mingle with the crowd in police uniform,” the letter read.