M A I N   N E W S

Fresh threat to Sonia’s life
S. Satyanarayanan
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 22
Fresh intelligence inputs that Pakistan-based militant groups were planning to carry out a suicide attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi will have a major impact on the style of campaigning by the Congress leader in the coming assembly poll in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttaranchal.

Sources said the security agencies would advise the Congress chief against road shows and mingling with the public during election campaigns.

During the last Lok Sabha elections, Ms Gandhi had toured extensively in various parts of the country and mingled with people en route, giving a tough time to security personnel.

The fresh intelligence inputs have led to a review of UPA Chairperson’s security at the highest level.

An advisory issued by intelligence agencies suggested that the terrorist groups had earmarked Sajjad, a Pakistani national heading the anti-India operations of the United Jehad Council, for masterminding the attack on Ms Gandhi.

Already, all states, especially the election-bound states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal have been alerted and asked to remain vigilant and strengthen security arrangements well in advance.

The Delhi police has already decided to stop traffic whenever Ms Gandhi’s motorcade is on the move, sources in the Home Ministry said.

Ms Gandhi, who is protected by the elite Special Protection Group, has been on the hit list of several terrorist groups, including the Lashkar-e-Taiba and fringe groups of the Al-Qaida, for quite sometime now.

Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary V K Duggal today reviewed the security for VIPs, including Ms Gandhi. After the meeting, a Home Ministry spokesperson sought to clarify that the ministry carried out periodic assessments of threats to all VVIPs and the latest exercise was undertaken in view of upcoming festivals, the Republic Day function and assembly elections in four states.

The spokesperson said on the basis of threat assessments received from security agencies, an advisory was issued to all concerned to be vigilant and strengthen security arrangements for VVIPs to avoid any untoward incident.

"Such advisories are issued regularly by the home ministry," he said.

In fact, after the Malegaon blasts in Maharashtra on September 8, there were reports about the possibility of terror groups targeting VVIPs. That prompted the Centre to review the security measures of top protectees, including Ms Gandhi and her family members.