Alert as driver of missing cab found dead

Soon after the driver of a taxi hired by three unidentified men from Pathankot was found dead in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, the Delhi police on Friday issued a high alert, fearing the three may enter the national capital to execute some terror activity. The taxi driver, identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Gaggal village in Kangra district, was found dead on Wednesday at the Kalta bridge in Kangra and his taxi missing, the police said.

“A white colour Alto taxi no. HP 01D 2440 was hired from Pathankot by three unknown people. The driver of the taxi, Vijay Kumar from Gaggal, Kangada was found dead on 21 Jan 2016 at the Kalta Bridge, Dist. Kangada. The Alto car is missing. Search operations are on. Stay Alert!” the pinned tweet on Delhi Police’s official handle read. Asked on the threat perception, Delhi police commissioner Bhim Sain Bassi urged people in the city to remain alert without disclosing any further details citing security concerns.

The alert was issued in the backdrop of the attack on IAF base in Pathankot where terrorists had first killed a cab driver and robbed his car before launching the strike.

The Delhi police has approached mediahouses in helping it find the car and spread the alert message through retweets.

A senior Delhi police official said that to thwart any untoward incident security at crowded places like markets, railway station, metro stations, malls has been increased.

“All SHOs have been directed to pay frequent visits to the vulnerable areas in their jurisdictions,” said the senior police officer, adding, “Barricading has been done at all borders with a police team, supervised by a sub-inspector-level official, scrutinising the entry of every suspicious vehicle entering the city.”

The city is already on an alert for the security of Republic Day and with the special cell of the Delhi police suggesting with their recent arrest the threat of terror activities by Al Qaeda’s India module.