New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh government is
showing less enthusiasm in cooperating with the Centre in
conducting raids at 'sensitive' areas to bust terror modules
because of political considerations, according to government
sources.
Citing Tuesday’s blast in Varanasi, they said
despite repeated requests from the Centre, the Uttar Pradesh
administration has not been taking action against people and
organisations with suspected terror activities.
"Due to political reasons, the Uttar Pradesh
government is reluctant to conduct raids in some areas. It is
hampering our efforts to tackle suspected terror modules," a
source said.
Besides, there has been specific input to the Uttar
Pradesh police that Indian Mujahideen could target the
Dasashwamedh Ghat, the place of yesterday's blast, and
Varanasi's German bakery.
"When we gave the input in February, we told them that
the terror strike could take place in the near future without
any specific time limit," the source said.
The information was received during the interrogation
of IM militant Shehjad, who is currently in Delhi's Tihar jail
in connection with the capital's 2006 blast.
Intelligence agencies have gather information that
around 20 IM cadres are current active of which five-six are
in India while the rest are either in Pakistan or in some Gulf
countries.
Sources said several prominent temples, National
Defence Academy, Delhi's popular Paharganj market and some
Chhabad houses are the targets of the terror group and the
authorities in the respective places have been asked to
intensify security there.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 08, 2010, 21:08