Leela Palace gets threats from IM

Terror group warns of Mumbai-type attack

Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen through an email has threatened to carry out an attack in Delhi — like the 26/11 Mumbai attack — in the coming few days and they have allegedly made necessary arrangements.

The special cell of Delhi Police received a complaint from The Leela Kempinski in Gurgaon that it has received a threatening email from people claiming to be members of IM on Sunday. 

The Leela Kempinski then forwarded the mail to its hotel — The Leela Palace in Chankyapuri — on Sunday afternoon.

Thereafter, the hotel immediately approached special cell of Delhi Police with the complaint and a copy of the email.

Police after receiving the email started a probe into the matter, and are trying to trace the computer from where the email was sent. “We have received a complaint from The Leela Palace in Chanakyapuri about the IM terror attack threat,” said a senior police officer.

The email stated that IM operatives will carry out a terror strike in Delhi and will target The Leela Palace just like they attacked Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai. “We are prepared and we are warning you,” the email stated.

Intelligence reports also stated that IM may target New Delhi on Republic Day.
The special cell in October last year had arrested five suspected IM members for involvement in the 2012 Pune serial blasts.

Police found that they had plans to carry out blasts in Delhi and Bihar.
Sayed Maqbool, who hails from Maharashtra’s Nanded district, was arrested from Hyderabad on Tuesday last for executing the blasts.

Earlier, police arrested Asad Khan, 33, and Imran Khan, 31, from their hideout in south-east Delhi’s Pul Prahladpur on September 26, while Sayed Feroz alias Hamza, 38, was nabbed from Nizamuddin railway station on October 1 and Landge Irfan Mustafa, 30, from Jaipur on October 10.

But three operatives of IM responsible for the Pune attack are still absconding, and police are carrying out raids to nab them.

One of the IM operatives Raju Bhai was based in Delhi and was providing shelter to the arrested members. Raju is said to have set up a few modules in Delhi.

Police have intensified their counter-terror apparatus and are gathering intelligence and questioning the arrested accused.