CHANDIGARH, DEC 6—Working round the clock to evolve new strategies and produce devices in disguise, to spread terror in India, Pakistan-based terrorists have now devised a new type of IED, concealed in a perfume bottle, and plan to courier it to top officials as a ‘gift’ to spread panic across the country.
This has been disclosed in an input received recently from the intelligence, Central Government, to the Chandigarh Police.
Acting on the input supplied by the intelligence, the Inspector General of Police, UT Administration, Chandigarh, has sent a letter to Advisor to the UT Administrator, Home Secretary, Deputy Commissioner, and Secretary to Punjab Governor.
Under the subject Terrorists’ new type of IED version, the letter states, “An input has been received from a sister intelligence agency regarding new version of IED, which is as under: Pakistan-based terrorists have devised a new kind of IED concealed in perfume bottle. This new type of IED will explode if used as normal perfume. These bottles of perfumes are likely to be sent through couriers to various government officials as ‘gift.’ This is for your kind information.”
Acting on the letter from the IGP, Chandigarh, the Department of Home, UT Administration, has forwarded it to all administrative secretaries, heads of department, boards and corporations. A copy of the letter has also been forwarded to the 16 branches of the UT Estate Office by the Superintendent (Admn) on November 30, 2011, to alert all officials.
While reached over the phone, a senior official of Chandigarh Police confirmed on the condition of anonymity that such input had been received. The device would explode on pressing the cap of the bottle, he added.
A senior official of the UT Administration said that a separate mechanism for effective collection, collation and dissemination of intelligence and follow-up action had been put in place. A letter to this effect has been circulated to all departments of the UT Administration to remain vigilant about such devices.
The UT Administration has also equipped its intelligence and police force with scientific tools and modern techniques to break into the protective hide-outs of terrorists, and hit the nail on the head.