Overview
- Intelligence agencies issued a heightened alert for possible attempts to target New Delhi and other cities ahead of January 26, based on inputs shared with multiple outlets.
- The assessment says Punjab-based gangsters are acting as foot soldiers for overseas radical handlers, with activity reported across Haryana, Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
- Reporting names the Khalistan Tiger Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force, with Canada-based Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dala cited as active; wanted posters also feature Ranjeet Singh Neeta and AQIS member Mohammed Abu Sufyan.
- Inputs warn that Bangladesh-linked radical groups may seek to infiltrate and conduct stand-off attacks at crowded or strategic locations around the national capital.
- Security measures include multi-agency mock drills at Red Fort, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazar and Metro stations, a ban on drones and similar aerial objects, traffic curbs on January 17, 19, 20 and 21, inter-state coordination led by Delhi Police, and pre-emptive arrests and raids under Operation Gang-Bust 2026 with illegal firearms seized.