Delhi was Simi terror target

Investigations by the National Investigation Agency into the face-off with terror suspects at Suryapet last week, in which two Simi activists were killed, indicate that the terror module was planning a strike in Delhi.

NIA sleuths are pursuing leads that show that the terror module was using Hyderabad and Vijayawada for logistics while planning a strike in the national capital.

A senior intelligence official of the AP police said, “There is a strong Delhi link emerging. According to the NIA, the Simi operatives were planning to strike in Delhi or its surroundings.”

He said that apart from the Delhi-Hyderabad train ticket recovered from the suspects, the NIA had “specific inputs” pointing to a plot to strike in the capital. On Monday intelligence agencies of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were informed by the Central agencies that the suspects were using Hyderabad and Vijayawada for logistics, committing robberies to collect money for their activities and as hideouts.

It is suspected that Hyderabad, Nalgonda and Vijayawada have Simi supporters. The official revealed that the Nalgonda district has around 45 identified sympathisers of Simi and other terror organisations.

The Telangana government is yet to hand over the investigations into the shootout, in which three police personnel were killed in two related incidents on Thursday and Sunday, to the NIA.