New Delhi, April 4 – Indian security agencies have uncovered a plot to carry out blasts at railway stations across the country. They have learned that the ISI has been setting up several small modules in various parts of the country to carry out these attacks.
These modules consist of just four to five people, an official said.
These modules are similar to the ones set up by the Indian Mujahideen under Yasin Bhatkal. The first module of the Indian Mujahideen comprised over 20 members, and due to extensive communication, the agencies were able to track them. However, the second module of the Indian Mujahideen, also under Yasin Bhatkal, comprised just five members, and since communication was very limited, the agencies were unable to easily track them. This module managed to carry out a series of audacious attacks in various parts of the country.
An official from the Intelligence Bureau said that the ISI is planning a series of attacks on railway stations. The aim is to bring railway services to a standstill and also instill fear and panic among the people.
Since 2014, Indian Railways has seen a significant increase. Over 31,000 kilometers of new tracks have been laid, with sections upgraded for speeds of 130-160 kilometers per hour. The indigenous Vande Bharat trains have contributed to the success of the railways.
The ISI realizes that executing terror attacks at railway stations, while also targeting trains and railway tracks, could severely damage the sector. Railways are the most popular form of transport, and therefore, causing damage here would send a strong message.
Moreover, the ISI has been planning such attacks ahead of the Pahalgam attack anniversary, which falls on April 22.
In recent months, the police have busted several modules, and investigations have revealed that the plan was to blow up a railway station. The ISI had even instructed the members of these smaller modules to install CCTV cameras at railway stations, so that they could study the logistics using the live feed. The Ghaziabad police recently uncovered a case whereby it was found that CCTV cameras were installed at a railway station so that reconnaissance could be carried out using the live feed.
Another official said that the intention is not to carry out a large-scale attack, and a series of smaller attacks are planned at multiple railway stations. Smaller attacks carried out by a micro module help in avoiding detection, the official added.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) busted a module this week and arrested four suspected handlers from Lucknow. Saquib, Arbab, Vikas Gehlawar, and Lokesh were arrested on Thursday. They had planned to carry out attacks at railway signal boxes, the control center which manages train movements, signals, and track switches within a specific station area or block section to ensure the safety of passengers.
These individuals also planned to target crowded railway stations. Their first target was the Lucknow railway station, an ATS official said.
Officials say that the ISI has planned attacks across India. However, in the first phase, the targets were largely in North India, especially Uttar Pradesh. There is a higher volume of passengers in these areas, and therefore, these were the targets.
The ISI-backed modules have also carried out train blasts in the past. The most significant one was the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, in which over 100 people lost their lives. An attack on a railway station is a major concern for the public who use this form of public transport extensively, the official noted.