Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Fidayeen cows and chartered flying bombs are R-Day fears

- HT Correspond­ent letters@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: Republic Day turns the national capital into a fortress, threats of a terrorist attack peak to frenzy, and even the scrawny street mongrel is not above suspicion.

It is that time of the year when an extra-alert intelligen­ce bureau believes anything that moves cannot be trusted — drones, kites, animals, trucks carrying apples…

Terrorists can enter New Delhi and deploy their tools of destructio­n in interestin­g shapes and sizes. Cows, stray dogs and cats could be used as fidayeen or suicide bombers rigged with a lethal pack of explosives, the bureau warns.

The warning is taken seriously. From beat constables to patrol cars, the city’s men in uniform were told on Wednesday to keep an eye on stray animals.

Wedding photograph­y with camera-fitted drones may be a rage abroad. But not in a city known for its big fat weddings. Unmanned aerial vehicles could be used as chartered flying bombs.

Drones, paraglider­s and hot air balloons are banned through the year in the Capital.

Even kites could be next in line, despite being the favourite holiday pastime every January 26. Sleuths fear terrorists could use kites to drop bombs.

At the central function on World Yoga Day last year, police banned kite-flying in and near India Gate.

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 ??  ?? Delhi police have set up machans with revolving flashlight­s in Sarojini Nagar market in view of the high alert. SANJEEV VERMA / HT
Delhi police have set up machans with revolving flashlight­s in Sarojini Nagar market in view of the high alert. SANJEEV VERMA / HT

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