Security agencies have flashed an alert after an SUV with a “JK” numberplate belonging to the CRPF was stolen from outside a camp of the force late last month, an official source said.
The alert, warning against misuse by militants ahead of R-day celebrations on January 26, has been issued by multiple agencies, including the Delhi police, the CRPF and central agencies.
The source said a white Sumo Victa of the CRPF was stolen from outside a camp of the force in RK Puram area on the intervening night of December 29-30.
The official number plate of the stolen four-wheeler is ‘JK 02A W5441’, they said.
The vehicle, with a ‘police’ sticker, was stolen by at least three people that night, the source said, referring to CCTV footage of the incident.
The alert issued by security agencies, especially to agencies and forces based in Kashmir, said that the vehicle could be misused for a “possible sabotage attack or fidayeen raid.”
Intelligence inputs have already stated that “militants can use a vehicle laden with explosives to attack a camp (of security forces/agencies) in the run up to R-Day celebrations…”, it said.
The CRPF, too, issued an alert and asked all its units in Jammu and Kashmir and north India to be on heightened vigil and take extra precautionary measures.
“No unidentified vehicle should be allowed to enter in the camp without proper identification and anti-sabotage checks,” stated the alert, issued by the CRPF headquarters in Delhi and accessed by PTI.
The force has asked all its unit commanders to share the message with the “last man on ground” so that the possible misuse of the stolen vehicle does not impact their security.
It also asked all its units in the country to “review” and fortify camp security.
The threat of the stolen vehicle has been escalated to the level of “high alert” in the wake of the recent attack on the CRPF camp in Pulwama, the source said.
Four CRPF personnel were killed on December 31 when heavily armed militants launched a pre-dawn attack on a camp of the force in Pulwama district. PTI