PeterGriffin
Elite
The Centre has warned Maharashtra police about a possible terror plot to target the cricket World Cup final in Mumbai on April 2.
According to sources, intelligence agencies have claimed that they have specific inputs about 17 tickets being bought by possible terror suspects for the World Cup final, with the possible aim of sabotaging the game. The inputs say the plot is being planned as a joint operation between Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat.
While LeT's avowed strategy to attack India is well known, it is for the first time that a Barelvi group, perceived to be liberal compared to the Deobandi strand followed by LeT, is being cited as a possible organizer of a terrorist attack in India. It is also noticeable that the two groups, not known to share any common ideological ground, are collaborating on such an operation.
Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat recently captured media attention when some 500 Islamic scholars assembled under its banner to express support to the killer of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. They also advised Muslims not to offer funeral prayers for Taseer.
According to inputs gathered by security agencies, someone linked to this collaboration between LeT and the Barelvi group has bought 17 tickets for the final. A group is expected to travel from Bangladesh to Mumbai for the April 2 final at Wankhade Stadium with these 17 tickets, inputs show.
The Centre has already instructed all states where World Cup matches are being held to step up security, after several inputs of terrorist threat. US agencies have cautioned both India and Bangladesh about possible terrorist threat to the matches, and have even warned that al- Qaida may want to target cricket stadiums.
Sources said Maharashtra police has already stepped up surveillance in Mumbai to look out for a possible group that could target the final match.
According to sources, intelligence agencies have claimed that they have specific inputs about 17 tickets being bought by possible terror suspects for the World Cup final, with the possible aim of sabotaging the game. The inputs say the plot is being planned as a joint operation between Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat.
While LeT's avowed strategy to attack India is well known, it is for the first time that a Barelvi group, perceived to be liberal compared to the Deobandi strand followed by LeT, is being cited as a possible organizer of a terrorist attack in India. It is also noticeable that the two groups, not known to share any common ideological ground, are collaborating on such an operation.
Jamaat-e-Ahle-Sunnat recently captured media attention when some 500 Islamic scholars assembled under its banner to express support to the killer of Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer. They also advised Muslims not to offer funeral prayers for Taseer.
According to inputs gathered by security agencies, someone linked to this collaboration between LeT and the Barelvi group has bought 17 tickets for the final. A group is expected to travel from Bangladesh to Mumbai for the April 2 final at Wankhade Stadium with these 17 tickets, inputs show.
The Centre has already instructed all states where World Cup matches are being held to step up security, after several inputs of terrorist threat. US agencies have cautioned both India and Bangladesh about possible terrorist threat to the matches, and have even warned that al- Qaida may want to target cricket stadiums.
Sources said Maharashtra police has already stepped up surveillance in Mumbai to look out for a possible group that could target the final match.
