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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2020 Delhi riots ‘larger conspiracy' case: Tasleem Ahmed granted interim bail for 15 days
A Delhi court Monday granted 15 days' interim bail to Tasleem Ahmed, an accused in the 'larger conspiracy' case linked to the 2020 Northeast Delhi Riots. Ahmed had sought interim bail on the grounds that his daughter is suffering from Typhoid and Hepatitis, and said he needs to arrange money for his son's school fee. According to the Delhi Police Special Cell, which was investigating the terror case, Ahmed allegedly gathered local women at the Jafrabad Metro Station, and blocked the road there, following which violence started in Northeast Delhi. During the investigation, Ahmed's name cropped up as one of the conspirators in this case. Protected witnesses disclosed his name in their statements. After terror charges were added in the case, the Special Cell booked 18 people under relevant provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Twelve of the 18 arrested are still in judicial custody, and the case is at the stage of arguments on the charge. On March 6, 2020, the Delhi Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) in the case. Five charge sheets were filed in this case between September 16, 2020, and June 7, 2023. According to the Delhi Police Special Cell, the accused orchestrated a 'larger conspiracy' which eventually led to the violence, leading to the riots. As many as 53 people were killed and 700 injured in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots. The Special Cell claimed the riots were the result of a months-long 'deep-rooted' conspiracy allegedly hatched after the Citizenship Amendment Bill got a nod from the Union Cabinet in December 2019. The 'conspiracy' here was the creation of 23 protest sites (which operated 24*7) in 'Muslim majority areas' close to mosques and main roads. As per the Special Cell, the accused wanted to 'escalate' the protest to a road blockade, once critical mass is generated, when the then-US President Donald Trump visited Delhi in 2020.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Hans India
100 spots ahead of I-Day: Police conduct checks across Delhi, flag security lapses
New Delhi: Ahead of Independence Day, Delhi Police conducted comprehensive checks at key places in the city, in-cluding hotels, railway stations and bus terminals, and identified security lapses at over 100 spots, sources said on Thursday. The Special Cell, Northeast Delhi, reported lapses at 16 locations, followed by 13 in East, 12 each in Shahdara and North, 11 in Central, 10 in Southeast, nine in South, eight in Metro, seven in Rohini, and six in Dwarka, they said. 'Multiple teams of the Special Cell undertook a five-day security inspection drive across various parts of Delhi in view of the high alert surrounding the upcoming national event,' said a source. During the inspection, non-functional CCTV cameras in hotels, parkings, locations near metro stations, eateries at metro stations, several premises near railway stations, bus stands and many other installa-tions were flagged. 'The teams also inspected non-functional door frame metal detectors (DFMDs), security personnel de-ployment and improper maintenance of visitor records,' a source said. Another officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Special Cell will write letters to the DCPs of the concerned districts to improve security in their respective areas. The inspection, conducted discreetly by trained teams of the Special Cell, was aimed at assessing the capital's preparedness to tackle any terror threats. It covered public places known to attract large crowds. 'Teams noticed a lack of functional DFMDs at various entry points. Several public places had either switched off their metal detectors, or they did not have power supply, or were not in working condi-tion,' said the officer. At some places, CCTV cameras were poorly positioned. Several public places did not have adequate lighting during night hours.
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- New Indian Express
Delhi Police special cell reports lapses at 16 locations ahead of I-Day
NEW DELHI: In the lead-up to Independence Day, the Delhi Police has intensified security measures across the national capital, uncovering significant lapses at over 100 key locations during a sweeping inspection drive. Conducted by the Special Cell over five days, the checks focused on high-footfall areas such as hotels, railway stations, bus terminals, and metro hubs, aimed at evaluating the capital's preparedness against potential terror threats. Sources revealed that the findings raise serious concerns about the functionality of security infrastructure, personnel deployment, and overall vigilance across several districts. The Special Cell in Northeast Delhi reported lapses at 16 locations, followed by 13 in East, 12 each in Shahdara and North, 11 in Central, 10 in Southeast, nine in South, eight in Metro, seven in Rohini, and six in Dwarka, sources said. 'Multiple teams of the Special Cell undertook a five-day security inspection drive across various parts of Delhi in view of the high alert surrounding the upcoming national event,' said a source. During the inspection, teams flagged non-functional CCTV cameras in hotels, parking areas, locations near metro stations, eateries within metro premises, and several areas near railway stations and bus stands. 'The teams also inspected non-functional door frame metal detectors (DFMDs), gaps in security personnel deployment, and improper maintenance of visitor records,' a source added. Another officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Special Cell will write to the DCPs of the concerned districts to improve security in their respective areas. The inspection, carried out discreetly by trained teams, was aimed at assessing the city's readiness to respond to any terror threats. It specifically targeted public spaces known to attract large crowds. 'Teams noticed a lack of functional DFMDs at various entry points. At several public places, metal detectors were either switched off, lacked power supply, or were simply not in working condition,' the officer said.
News18
23-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Delhi Police forms special Operation Cell to monitor terror activities online
New Delhi, Jul 23 (PTI) The Delhi Police has constituted 'Operation Cell", a dedicated team of cyber experts that will monitor terrorism-related activities on social media, dark web and bomb threats, an official said on Wednesday. The newly formed unit will function under the Special Cell, the anti-terror unit of the force, he said. 'The Operation Cell will primarily focus on monitoring Khalistan terrorism-related activities, both within India and from foreign entities, particularly via social media platforms," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Amit Kaushik said. The DCP said that a wanted criminal, identified as Akashdeep, associated with the banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International has been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police. Akashdeep was wanted in multiple cases, including a grenade attack on Qila Lal Singh police station in Punjab's Batala on April 7 and illegal supply of arms to criminals in Delhi, he said. 'Operation Cell has already started working and is giving better results," the DCP said. Another police officer, on the request of anonymity, said that the expert team will also check the dark web for the bomb related calls and emails. The team has been tasked with round-the-clock surveillance of suspicious online content, digital footprints of banned outfits, and any material that may pose a threat to national security, the officer added. The officer said that Operation Cell will maintain a strict 24×7 vigil on the online activities of proscribed terrorist organisations, including Babbar Khalsa International, Indian gangsters based in foreign countries and cross-border networks suspected of engaging in or promoting radical activities. 'The Cell will actively monitor various social media handles and internet-based communications used by terrorist groups. Any suspicious post or digital content will be flagged immediately and reported to the seniors," the officer added. The officials said the increasing use of digital platforms for radicalisation, recruitment and communication by terror outfits has necessitated the formation of a specialised monitoring cell. 'This is a proactive step to stay ahead of terror elements who are increasingly operating through virtual networks. By tracking their movements in the digital space, we aim to prevent any attempt to disrupt peace and security in the capital," the officer added. The Operation Cell will also coordinate with central intelligence agencies and state police units to share real-time intelligence and support ongoing investigations related to terror funding and sleeper cells. With the working of the Operation Cell, the Delhi Police aims to enhance its digital surveillance capabilities and ensure the safety of citizens by neutralising threats at the earliest stage possible. The team will also search the source involved in sending bomb threats to multiple schools and colleges in the national capital, according to the officials. In mid-July, some schools and colleges in Delhi received a wave of hoax bomb threat emails. Between July 14-16, around 10 institutions — nine schools and one college — were targeted, and by July 18, about 45 more schools had received threats, bringing the weekly total to approximately 55 to 60 such alerts. However, all were declared false after thorough inspections by police, bomb squads and fire services. One sender, a 12-year-old student, was traced and counselled. 'Authorities continue investigating threats, which were routed via anonymous servers using Virtual Private Networking and dark web platforms. The incident disrupted academics and heightened parental anxiety. PTI BM NB view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
17-07-2025
- Indian Express
Hoax bomb threat: 25 emails sent to 400 schools since last April, only few cases solved
'There are many explosive devices in the school…' This message was received by 200 schools via email in May, last year. It came as a shock to security agencies, as Delhi had never before encountered such a large-scale threat via email. Subsequently, security agencies identified the sender's email address as sawariim@ 'Sawarim' is an Arabic word frequently used by the terrorist organisation Islamic State in its propaganda videos. This connection pointed to a potentially deeper conspiracy. The Delhi Police's counter intelligence unit, which is a part of the Special Cell, an anti-terror unit, registered an FIR and set up a dedicated team of cyber experts to access the details of the senders. During the probe, it was found that the service provider ( – used to send hoax bomb threats – was based in Moscow, said a source in the police. With the help of Interpol, the police wrote to the National Central Bureau in Moscow, seeking details of the person who had created the threat email. However, the probe hit a roadblock. Police discovered that the sender had used a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or proxy server – an encrypted connection over the Internet – to hide his identity. The email sent in May was one of the 25 such threats received by over 400 schools in Delhi since April 30, 2024. In some of these emails, the sender also mentioned critical installations such as hospitals, airports, and airline companies. Police sources said around 50 of these 400 schools have received such emails multiple times. Few cases solved One reason why police have been able to solve some of these cases is due to the mistakes made by juveniles, who had allegedly sent the emails, said sources. Last December, the Delhi Police had traced a student for sending a bomb threat email to his school, as he wanted to avoid an examination. The student had not used any VPN. He had used an email ID, making it easier for the police to track him. The child was counselled and allowed to go. In the South district, apart from solving one case in which the police traced a 16-year-old boy in January this year for allegedly sending emails to 400 schools using VPNs, the police have not been able to make much progress in the other cases. The police were able to trace the boy when, in one instance, the VPN he was using failed to connect, said sources. Special Commissioner of Police Madhup Tiwari had then said, 'We are sure that he was behind the emails sent to 250 schools on May 1. But with regard to the emails sent on February 8, we can't say… as we are awaiting digital evidence. He has so far sent mail to more than 400 schools.' The police had earlier recovered a laptop and two mobile phones from the 16-year-old. These devices were sent for forensic examination, which gave 'conclusive and irrefutable digital evidence' directly linking him to the threat emails, police had said. A senior police officer said that in around half-a-dozen cases, students had sent the emails either as a prank or to shut down their schools to avoid exams. The probe Soon after such emails are declared a hoax, the local police, along with the district cyber teams, begin their probe. Subsequently, specialised units such as the Special Cell, Crime Branch, CI, and IFSO take over. 'In the first three to four days, the police and district cyber teams try to trace the sender's IP address. If necessary, an FIR is registered before the case is handed over to our specialised units,' said a source. 'We also seek assistance from central agencies to obtain server details when the servers are based abroad. Over the past few months, in most cases, the domains used in emails were traced to European countries. However, accessing the IP addresses or other sender details is nearly impossible, as they are encrypted and masked using VPN or proxy servers,' the source added. Cyber expert speak According to cyber expert Sunny Nehra, founder of Secure Your Hacks, while many such cases involve the use of VPNs, most of the times, the VPN companies don't provide data to the police as the firms are generally based abroad, and have strict policies of not sharing user data with law enforcement agencies. 'Police can crack VPN IPs in reverse if the suspect is based in India. They have to write to ISPs (Internet service providers) to check if a given VPN IP has been reflected in any of their customers' details as destination IP. Because when a user uses VPN, the user is directly connected to the VPN IP, which in turn is connected to the websites he is surfing. So, the VPN IP becomes a destination IP in his IPDR (Internet Protocol Detail Record) details,' he said. A police officer said, 'If we try to understand the VPN as a layman… in case we are talking to each other, it's direct connectivity, but if we are connected through a VPN, we communicate via multiple domain servers.'
