Carrying out terror attacks by sending armed men on stolen motorbikes could be the new modus operandi of Indian Mujahideen, which is believed to be regrouping in southern states of India.
The officials of Delhi police’s special cell said that the Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack on foreigners near Jama Masjid in Old Delhi, is regrouping in south India and is currently training its recruits in various towns of the states, especially Karnataka, to carry out a new spate of attacks in metropolis, police sources said.
"Over the last two months, we have been intercepting conversations which suggest that the sleeper modules of the Indian Mujahideen are regrouping in various states and they are planning to strike in the wake of upcoming Commonwealth Games to tarnish image and keep away tourists from visiting India. Sunday’s attack could be one such attack," a top police official in special cell said.
The sources revealed that the two assailants, who carried out the attack on Sunday, had conducted recce of the area one month earlier and Gate No. 3 was chosen as the target since there is no electronic surveillance there.
"We believe that the assailants had recceed the area properly before carrying out the attack. It is not possible to make way out of the area on normal days. The market around the Jama Masjid is bustling with people even on Sundays. The manner in which the attack was carried out suggests that the men knew the area well and were aware of the surroundings," the source revealed.
Two Taiwanese nationals were injured in Sunday’s firing incident outside Jama Masjid, raising serious questions over the security preparedness made by the Delhi police for Games.
The police has not made any breakthrough in the case so far but the terror angle has not been ruled out.