New Delhi: Security agencies recovered two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir on Friday amid intelligence warnings of a possible terror conspiracy targeting the national capital.
The alerts have been linked to a suspected plot by Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba aimed at crowded religious and tourist locations in Delhi.
Authorities said that while no direct operational link between the recovered explosives and the intelligence inputs has been conclusively established, the incidents have prompted heightened security across several regions.
IED recovered near police post in Amritsar
In Punjab, a suspected improvised explosive device was discovered inside an unattended bag near a police post in Amritsar. Local residents noticed the suspicious bag near the Rayya police chowk and alerted authorities, following which the area was immediately sealed off.
Police teams cordoned off the location and called in bomb disposal experts who later confirmed the presence of an explosive device. The IED was subsequently defused in accordance with standard safety protocols, preventing any casualties.
Officials said the timely detection and neutralisation of the device averted a potential security incident in the sensitive border state.
Explosive device found in Ganderbal
On the same day, another IED was detected in Safapora area of Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir. The device was identified by an Army bomb detection squad working jointly with Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel.
Security teams defused the explosive within hours, ensuring no damage or injuries. Officials noted that this was the third such recovery in North Kashmir within a week, indicating increased militant activity in the region.
Earlier, explosive devices were recovered from areas along the Tangmarg road and in Baramulla district, prompting intensified surveillance by security agencies.
Intelligence inputs warn of Delhi attack plot
The IED recoveries came amid intelligence inputs warning of a possible terror plot allegedly planned by Lashkar-e-Taiba targeting crowded locations in Delhi.
Sources indicated that religious sites and major tourist areas in Old Delhi, including crowded markets around Chandni Chowk, could be among the potential targets. Investigators believe the plan may involve placing IEDs in high-footfall zones to maximise casualties.
Areas near the historic Red Fort have also been identified as sensitive locations under increased surveillance.
Possible motive behind the plot
According to intelligence sources, the suspected terror conspiracy may be linked to attempts by militants to avenge a suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad on February 6 that killed more than 30 people. The attack was later claimed by the Islamic State, although investigators believe other groups may be attempting retaliatory operations.
Security agencies are closely monitoring suspicious movements and strengthening anti-terror measures in the national capital and adjoining states.
Officials emphasised that recent recoveries highlight the continuing threat posed by cross-border terrorism and the need for sustained vigilance, particularly in crowded urban areas and sensitive regions.
