Security agencies have killed three out of 10 suspected Pakistani terrorists who had entered India via Gujarat to carry out terror attacks during Maha Shivaratri festivities on Tuesday.
The location of the others is known, said the sources, stressing that no other information can be revealed because it could jeopardize security plans.
Sources also say Somnath temple was the target for a 26/11 type terror attack on Shivratri.
Gujarat was put on high alert after the warning, with increased security at the Somnath Temple on the occasion of Mahshivratri, one of the most important dates of the Hindu calendar. Intel agencies then said the terrorists may have travelled to Delhi, where malls and public places were asked to be especially vigilant.
The terrorists are reportedly members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed or JeM.
Sources had said Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Nasir Khan Janjua first shared the leads with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval that 10 terrorists have entered India. He (Janjua) also informed that these terrorists are from Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfits and their aim is to carry out terror strikes in Gujarat and other parts of India.
The official said that they were not in a position to share any further information about the three killed terrorists as verification process was still on. He also said that the terrorists planned to strike the famous Somnath temple on the coast of Gujarat, ahead of Maha Shivratri celebrations last week.
“There are seven more, whom we have to track. The terrorists could belong to a third country as well,” said the official.
Important monuments and pilgrimage centers like Somnath temple, Dwarka Temple, Akashardham Temple, power plants, dams like Sardar Sarovar Dam and security establishments were put on high alert after intelligence inputs reported the entry of the said terrorists.
