Bengaluru: As the city braces for a BJP blitz led by their prime ministerial hopeful Narendra Modi, Intelligence officials are warning that they have received inputs that during the BJP leader's rally in the city on Sunday, the Indian Mujahideen, prevented from attacking Modi, may target crowds instead and try to create unrest.
People, coming from other districts to attend the rally are at risk. "They may be provoked or attacked. We also want to pre-empt a stampede at the City railway station," said a top Intelligence officer. Following the alerts, the City has turned into a fortress with a heavy security cover, especially around the Palace Grounds - the venue for the Sunday rally.
Officially around 3,000 policemen have been deployed for Modi's rally. Unofficially, over 20,000 cops will be pressed into duty. “No politician has ever been given such a security cover as is being given to Modi. We consider him very high risk, and no one wants a repeat of Patna,” an intelligence officer said, adding “not in a Congress-ruled state."
Crowds a target: Intel warning
Unable to get their prime target — the Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi because of his Z-plus security cover, the banned terror outfit — ‘Indian Mujahideen,’ which is the Indian arm of the Pakistan-based terror organisation – ‘Lashkar-e-Tayyaba’ has reportedly changed its strategy from targeting their prime target – Modi – to targeting the crowds that come to attend his rally, which will result in stampedes.
According to top IntellÂigence sources, the October 27 serial blasts in Patna, just before Modi’s rally on ‘Gandhi Maidan,’ which claimed seven lives and injured many others, were to provoke a stampede and law and order situation.
“The perpetrators had planted low intensity imprÂoÂÂvised explosive deviÂces on the periphery of the grouÂnds. If all of them had explÂoÂded there would have been a stampede resulting in many more casualties and a serious law order problem in Bihar.
The terrorists may duplicate the same modus operandi in Bengaluru.
“There are constant inputs on crowd protection and alerts on the safety of people, who are coming from other districts to attend the rally. They may be provoked or attacked. There are also warnings on possible stampede at the City railway station and attack on normal passengers,” said a top Intelligence officer.
Following the alerts the city has turned into a fortress with a heavy security cover, especially arouÂnd the Palace Grounds – the venue for the Sunday rally.
Though officially around 3,000 policemen have been deployed for Modi’s rally; unofficially over 20,000 cops will be pressed on duty. “No politician has ever been given such an accelerated security cover as is being given to Mr Modi by the City police. He is at very high risk,” the officer added.
