A significant counter-terror probe has led to a fresh focus on security issues of mass protests following allegations by Punjab Police that it had unearthed an alleged Pakistan-based terror plot against a protest meeting in Delhi at the Jantar Mantar. Investigators claim that the members of a so-called ISI backed module were going to carry out a petrol bomb attack at the nationally significant protest venue but the law enforcement agencies claimed to have thwarted the alleged plot before it could be executed. The authorities claim that the scheme was revealed in the course of the investigation of cross-border terror networks and radicalisation processes, which was ongoing.
The development has garnered national attention, as Jantar Mantar remains one of India’s primary venues for public demonstrations by activists, students, political parties, and civil society groups. Any perceived effort to strike such a target would be of great concern in terms of security of the population, intelligence gathering and the preparedness of such cities to counter-terrorism.
Significantly, the accusations are still a subject of an investigation. The government has already issued accusations on the basis of the already gathered evidence, but the accusations are yet to be proven in court.
What Punjab Police Claimed
Recently, Punjab Police declared that the police had broken down two suspected cross border terror modules which according to investigators were running on the instructions of their handlers in Pakistan. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and other high ranking officials reported that in the operation, nine people, four of them being juveniles, were arrested.
According to the police officials, the accused were reportedly engaged in the activities which included:
- Recruiting young people locally to work in terror-related activities.
- Monitoring of security systems.
- Obtaining illicit weapons.
- Attempts to destabilize society.
- Using petrol bombs to plan attacks.
In the process, investigators recovered:
- Three illegal pistols.
- Nine live cartridges.
- Four bottles allegedly prepared for use as petrol bombs
Punjab Police also alleged that initial investigations indicated that suspects and foreign handlers were communicating with each other, and thus ordered operational activities happening across the border.
Alleged ISI-Backed Terror Module
The modules that were dismantled were said to be supported by handlers in Pakistan as reported by Punjab Police, whose links with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The investigators purport that the accused were acting as a subset of a greater cross-border network that brought on board operatives, carrying out reconnaissance, and causing instability by executing specific acts of violence.
The officials have reported that foreign handlers have supposedly trained recruits using electronic mediums of communication and urged them to collect information about potential targets. The officers of police also stated that they have found material about surveillance during the investigation. In a part of the investigation, police discovered cameras which they claim were placed along railways and the videos were sent to their handlers in other countries.
All the details of operations have not been published by the officials as the investigation is still going on. Further forensic analysis of electronic evidence and communication data is allegedly being done.
Why Jantar Mantar Was Reportedly Targeted
The suspected conspiracy has created some specific alarm as purportedly it included the Jantar Mantar of Delhi, among the most well-known sites of protest in the country.
It is located in central Delhi where Jantar Mantar is the frequent venue of protests organised by students, political activists, social organisations and advocacy groups. The venue is used frequently to conduct large events and is highly covered by the media.
According to reports by investigative units of law enforcement agencies suspects had plans pertaining to a protest event to be held at Jantar Mantar and discussed ways in which they could penetrate the event or cause havoc. Reportedly, communications retrieved by investigators reportedly talked about acquiring police uniforms and performing disruptive acts in one of the protests at the site.
The government is investigating the possibility that the supposed motive was to produce casualties, cause panic, loss of trust in security measures or to cause greater unrest. But researchers are yet to publish definitive results on the intended ultimate operational purpose.
Investigation So Far
Various agencies, as well as jurisdictions have been involved in the investigation.
The operation by Punjab Police led to the arrest of nine suspects including four juveniles. Officials said the arrests led to the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, and petrol bomb materials.
Investigators are analysing:
- Electronic gadgets and cell phones.
- Social media communications.
- Logistical and financial connections.
- Possible relationship with foreign based handlers.
- Information pertaining to surveillance.
The officials have indicated that the investigation is still underway and that investigators are currently trying to find out the extent of the network. Although no official timeline of arrests has been announced, the police have not ruled out further arrests.
Wider Context of Cross-Border Terror Investigations
The Punjab Police probe comes on the heels of a succession of terror-related investigations in the past few months in northern India of alleged Pakistan-linked agents and controllers.
Previous probes by the Special Cell of the Delhi police revealed so-called terror networks which were plotting to attack security installations and other places of the people with petrol bombs and other arms. The case investigators also claimed connections to Pakistan-based handlers and transnational criminal networks.
Individual research by the national agencies has also looked into claims of smuggling of weaponry, recruitment of local spies and the use of coded communication systems to organize operations across the state boundaries.
Although the individual cases are legally considered different, security agencies consider such investigations to be a wider approach in combating the changing cross-border threats.
Security Implications
Some vital internal security issues are brought out in the so-called plot.
Protection of Public Protests
The nature of large masses of people in the demonstrations makes them susceptible to any form of attack since such crowds are concentrated in open spaces. Security agencies usually have the dilemma of trying to strike a balance of freedom on the part of the citizens with the threat reduction.
Intelligence Coordination
The case highlights the need to share information between the state police forces, the intelligence agencies, and the central security institutions. Risk can be greatly minimized by early detection of suspicious activity.
Urban Counter-Terror Preparedness
Recent case studies are characterized by the use of digital surveillance and encrypted messages, as well as internet recruiting. These changing strategies will have to be constantly adjusted by the law enforcement agencies.
Public Safety Management
In response to new challenges, authorities can examine crowd-management guidelines, surveillance, and access-control in and around large protest sites and other places with large pedestrian volumes.
Official Statements
Punjab Police officials, such as DGP Gaurav Yadav, said that initial investigations have revealed that the accused were supposedly working in the directives of foreign-based handlers who had connections with the ISI. Authorities also alleged that the modules had been recruiting, conducting surveillance, buying unlawful weapons, and plotting to cause havoc to the normalcy of the society.
The arrests and weapon and petrol bomb materials were also confirmed by Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar who also confirmed the operation.
As of writing, the Ministry of Home Affairs had not made any official statement as to the particular allegations of Jantar Mantar.
Public and Political Reactions
On the one hand, there are still not a lot of verified public and political responses.
The government has been keen on evidence research and retrieval and not on political commenting. No significant government news other than law enforcement briefings has been officially reported in regard to the supposed Jantar Mantar plot.
Considering the sensitivity of the issue, security experts and officials have mostly advised to be careful until the investigation is conducted to higher levels and the evidence is subjected to the scrutiny of the courts.
Current Status
The case is still under investigation.
The key developments confirmed by Punjab Police so far are:
- Arrest of nine suspects, including four juveniles
- Recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, and petrol bomb materials
- Analysis of digital communications and electronic data
- Investigation into alleged cross-border links
- Ongoing efforts to identify additional associates and handlers
Officials are still yet to make final charges in every facet of the case and additional investigative discoveries might also come up as the forensic and intelligence analysis further develops.
Conclusion
The so-called terror plot against a demonstration at Jantar Mantar has become one of the largest and recent security cases with allegations of cross-border organization and organized disturbance of the population. Punjab Police have claimed that an alleged ISI-backed module was planning a petrol bomb attack and that timely police action led to multiple arrests and the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, and petrol bomb materials.
Much of the case is being investigated at this point though. Although law enforcement agencies have presented their evidence and claims, the facts will eventually have to stand the scrutiny of a court of law.
The case however shows the persistence of the relevance of intelligence-led policing, inter-agency coordination, and strong security provisions of high profile public events. With investigators following up additional leads, the priority is to determine the extent of the so-called network and to provide security to the areas where people exercise their democratic rights.
