Youth detained for creating panic about blasts in Delhi

Srinagar, May 2 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir Police has
detained a youth alleged to be the brain behind spreading
panic by making calls claiming that blasts will be carried out
in crowded markets of Delhi, which had prompted even the
United States to issue a travel warning.
Highly-placed sources in the Home Department of north
Indian state Jammu and Kashmir said that the man was detained
in the wee hours after a massive manhunt was launched to nab
him.
Last week, the security agencies had monitored his
activities including his conversation with one "Furqan",
suspected to be a Lashker-e-Taiba operative across the border,
and claiming that a group had entered India through Bangladesh
and Nepal to carry out blasts in the national capital.
He is alleged to have been roped in by overground workers
of separatist and terror groups for making such frivolous
calls and creating panic among the intelligence agencies and
unrest in other parts of the country, the sources said.
The Kashmiri youth had earlier also misguided the
intelligence agencies by indulging in these kinds of acts,
they said.
However, in absence of any stringent law, he managed to
walk free, the sources said.
The successive warden notices issued by the US and
sharing of intelligence by the American authorities raised
eyebrows this time following which the authorities decided to
get to the bottom of the case.
The US had issued a fresh advisory warning of "imminent"
terror attacks in New Delhi, particularly in busy market
places like Connaught Place, Greater Kailash and Chandni
Chowk, which are "attractive targets" for terrorist groups.
"This warden message provides updated information
related to the April 21, 2010 warden message and additional
information related to the travel alert issued for India on
April 16, 2010," the renewed advisory primarily intended for
American citizens in India had said and also pointed out that
there were "increased indications that terrorists are planning
imminent attacks in New Delhi."
While countries like the UK and Australia were quick to
follow, issuing travel alerts, Delhi Police went on high alert
increasing its presence at all important places in the
national capital, especially the markets mentioned in the
advisories issued by the respective countries.
In the meantime, the Kashmiri youth, who was picked up
after series of night-long raids by the Jammu and Kashmir
Police, is understood to have told his interrogators that he
had been promised money for creating such panic. PTI