The Commonwealth Games in New Delhi will be an "appealing target" for Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) because of its political and economic significance for India, a top US counter-terrorism official has warned.
The warning came at a time when India's Home Minister P Chidambaram informed the Prime Minister's Office in an internal mail that the Home Ministry would not take responsibility for any untoward incident during the event, sources told news portal rediff.com.
"We are concerned that next month's Commonwealth Games in New Delhi will be an appealing target for Lashkar-e-Toiba due to their political and economic significance for India," said Michael Leiter, the Director of the US National Counter-terrorism Centre (NCTC). Leiter was testifying before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Wednesday. He said the threat level increases because of the heightened media exposure that will accompany the October 3-14 mega event that India is trying to showcase to the world.
The NCTC chief said, “Its attacks in Kashmir and India have had a destabilising effect on the region, increasing tensions and brinkmanship between New Delhi and Islamabad. The group’s attack two years ago in Mumbai resulted in US and Western casualties, and the group continues to plan attacks in India that could harm US citizens and damage US interests.”
The warning assumes significance in the backdrop of the incident on Sunday when two gunmen on a motorcycle shot at a tourist bus near the historic Jama Masjid , injuring two Taiwanese nationals. The gunmen randomly opened fire near the mosque, hitting tourists who were in a bus parked nearby. The terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM) later claimed responsibility for he attack. The IM is reported to be close to the Lashkar-e-Toiba.
Meanwhile, the Home Minister wrote to the Prime Minister, "The (Home) Ministry will not take responsibility if any untoward incident takes place, as Games venues have not been handed over to security agencies on time." The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main stadium for the event, was to be handed over to the security agencies on September 21 and the Games village on September 19. These venues have still not been handed over.
The security arrangements for the Commonwealth Games were reviewed at a meeting on Thursday by Chidambaram. Union Home Secretary, Secretary (Sports), Commissioner of Police, Delhi, representatives of the Organising Committee and others were present.
While taking note of the delays, the minister set certain timelines for the Organising Committee and other authorities to complete the works. The Delhi Police informed the Home Minister that once the venues were handed over to the Delhi Police, full security would be provided, and there would not be any cause for concern.
The Indian government has prepared a four-layer security plan for the mega event, which will see participation of around 8,500 athletes from 71 countries competing in 17 events. Around 80,000 police personnel, over 17,500 paramilitary personnel, 3,000 commandos and 100 anti-sabotage check teams will be deployed across New Delhi during the event.
