Security beefed up after JeM terrorist’s recce of RSS HQ
   Date :08-Jan-2022

RSS HQ
 
 
SECURITY in and around the Headquarters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other vital installations in the Second Capital has been beefed up after one of the terrorists arrested by Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Police a couple of days ago confessed to have conducted a recce of Sangh building and its adjoining areas in Nagpur.
One Raees Shaikh, owing allegiance to terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had visited the city two-three months ago to conduct the recce of RSS Headquarters. According to information, his handlers were in Pakistan. After getting concrete evidence from J&K Police and Intelligence agencies in this regard, a case under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered against Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) at Kotwali Police Station.
Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar told The Hitavada that in view of the perceived threats and to thwart the nefarious designs of the ultras, deployment of security personnel in the sensitive areas and vital locations has been increased. “With the registration of the case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Jaish-e-Mohammad,” he said, “Police will bring the accused from J&K and arrest him after completing the necessary legal procedure.”
Preliminary investigations revealed that Raees Shaikh was trained along with some Kashmiri youths at Jaish-e-Mohammad camp across the border in handling improvised explosive devices. He had recced a few spots like RSS Headquarters, Mahal and Dr Hedgewar Smruti Mandir, Reshimbag and sent the details to his handlers in Pakistan.
On Friday, City Police issued an order under Section 144(1(3) of Code of Criminal Procedure, prohibiting photography, videography and using drone cameras at RSS Headquarters and its surrounding areas.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Intelligence agencies had already alerted that some terrorists, owing allegiance to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI)-backed Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba inimical to the nation may pose a threat to the safety of general public, dignitaries and vital installations, including the RSS Headquarters, in Nagpur.
City Police had earlier foiled a plot of ISI-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba to blow up the RSS Headquarters by gunning down three heavily armed terrorists in the small hours of June 1, 2006. Under the leadership of the then Commissioner of Police SPS Yadav, the special team gunned down the three ultras carrying AK-56 assault rifles, handgrenades, ammunition and RDX, who entered the narrow lanes around the RSS building in an Ambassador car with a beacon atop after an encounter. The three ‘Jehadis’ were sporting police uniforms. As none claimed the bodies of the three terrorists, police buried them in the city itself.
In May 2001, city police had arrested 10 activists of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) for allegedly planting pipe-bombs in the vicinity of the VHP
Mahal office and RSS Headquarters. The pipe bombs were later defused by the Bomb detection and Disposal Squad with the assistance of military experts.