Haryana new target of ISI activities
Chander Suta Dogra
Hindustan Times
April 22, 1999
Title: Haryana new target of ISI activities
Author: Chander Suta Dogra
Publication: Hindustan Times
Date: April 22, 1999
After Punjab, Haryana is the latest target of Pakistan's ISI sponsored
terrorist organisations. The spate of incidents in recent months,
particularly recoveries of explosive devices as also scattered bomb
blasts in different parts of the State taken together with a serial
spell of explosions about two years ago are the basis for this theory
which is causing considerable concern within the police force.
About a week ago, a fully assembled explosive device containing about
two kilogram of RDX was found in a bag, the heart of Panipat town on
the GT Road. it is presumed that the bag was thrown from a moving
vehicle. Besides, an electronic timer, timed to go off after two
hours, it contained a battery of American make and a detonator.
About two months ago, another device containing a nine kilogram of
explosives was found on the railway tracks near Shahbad. Both were
discovered in time and defused.
But soon after the Shahbad device was discovered terrorists struck
again at the same spot and this time the explosion blew away a pillar
of the bridge over the, Markanda river.
A few months ago explosives were also discovered from near a temple in
Shahbad. An explosion which blasted to smithereens a Haryana Roadways
bus at ISBT in Delhi is also believed to have been planted somewhere
in Panipat.
Senior police officials here say that according to intelligence
reports, there is a clear indication that Pakistan's ISI is bent on
creating mischief in this region and is pressurising terrorists
residing in Pakistan to become active once again.
But why Haryana and not Punjab as before? Although security forces are
still groping in the dark, one theory is the reluctance of Sikh
terrorist organisations to create trouble in Punjab at a time when an
Akali government is in power.
Haryana's proximity to Delhi as also the borders of Punjab and Nepal
presently being used to smuggle in explosives is considered a fit
place for terrorists, desperate to do something to please the ISI.
Concerned at this scenario the Haryana police have recently launched
massive combing operation to nab suspected terrorists active in the
State.
The focus is the Ambala- Shahbad belt up to Panipat, which in recent
months has yielded explosive recoveries. Besides, actual bomb blasts
too are taking place there.
Police officials here believe that terrorists responsible for these
incidents are either operating from this area or are transitory
residents, moving away after planting explosives.
So to begin with a systematic combing of deras or isolated farmhouses
is underway as these places had been commonly used as hide- outs
during the days of terrorism in Punjab.
The police have also begun a door to door screening in selected towns
namely Shahbad, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Panipat to check the
antecedents of residents.
Those with a past record of crime or connected with terrorist elements
in any way are being scrutinised thoroughly. Permanent guards have
also been put on some vital bridges on the State as it was found that
the railway protection force routine patrolling was not effective in
preventing incidents on railway bridges.
Although the police have not been able to make much headway in tracing
the persons behind the incidents, it is now clear that blasts which
rocked the State two years ago were the handiwork of persons residing
outside the State, say officers.
For instance, the accused in the Jhelum train blast at Ambala station
was nabbed from the Khalistan Zindabad Force and was nabbed from
Jammu.
Similarly the smaller blasts which took place at Rohtak, Sonepat, and
Panipat at that time have also been traced to a gang with its base in
western UP.
The Deoband area in particular is considered to be a hotbed of
subversive activities and a handy conduit for explosives smuggled in
from the Nepal border.
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