The Delhi Police’s Special Cell on Saturday thwarted a major terror plot allegedly aimed at disrupting critical infrastructure and security establishments in the national capital, collaring nine persons allegedly linked to the ISI and the Mumbai underworld. 

Investigators have described the action as a blow to Pakistan-backed conspiracy with alleged links to the Mumbai underworld, raising fresh concerns over attempts to target strategic locations in Delhi. 

Extensive operation leads to suspects

According to officials, the Special Cell’s NDR unit conducted the operation based on sustained surveillance and intelligence gathering. Officials said that the accused were acting on instructions received from handlers linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and had been tasked with attacks on sensitive locations in Delhi. 

As per investigators, the suspects were part of a larger network and were actively coordinating with foreign-based operatives. During the raids, the Special cell sleuths seized weapons, hand grenades and explosive materials believed to have been sourced through channels connected to Pakistan-backed elements. 

The authorities said they are examining the seized material to determine the scale of the alleged conspiracy and the operational capabilities of the group. 

Key locations were allegedly on the syndicate’s radar

Preliminary investigations by the Special Cell unit suggest that the accused were allegedly planning attacks on several high-value targets, such as airports, railway stations, power plants and other strategically important installations. Security agencies are also assessing whether establishments linked to national security and government operations were among the intended targets. Officials believe that any suspected attack on such locations could have caused widespread disruption and would have posed a dire threat to public safety. 

Investigators probing wider network

After the syndicate was laid bare, authorities suspect that the conspiracy may extend beyond Delhi, and have launched an investigation into potential links across different states. They have begun scrutinising communication records, digital footprints, financial transactions and logistical support networks as part of the probe. 

Meanwhile, officials have not ruled out the possibility of sleeper-cell connections as part of the conspiracy.