NEW DELHI, 21 November 2002 — An apparent hoax call about four terrorists driving toward Parliament created panic in the high-security complex yesterday before it was declared to be a false alarm.
Four men, who the anonymous caller described as terrorists, were detained and then let off after intelligence agencies were satisfied they were who they claimed to be — agents to facilitate the passage of Haj pilgrims. "It was a mischievous message.
They were found to be in possession of 58 travel documents and were in the city to pay the travel agents who had arranged the tickets for Haj pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia," Deputy Commissioner of Police Manoj Lal said. "They were let off after their antecedents were checked and their profiles recorded by the intelligence agencies," Lal said.
"It turned out to be a hoax call." An alert was sounded in Parliament, which was in session, following the call to the police control room about the alleged terrorists heading for the complex with explosives and weapons. The phone call was received at 11.45 a.m. The security exercise that followed, however, did not disrupt the session.
The call created a flutter as the Dec. 13, 2001 terrorist attack on Parliament — in which nine people, including five terrorists were killed — was still on top of people’s minds. "We received a call that four men were traveling in a car and were carrying arms and ammunition. They were stopped at Connaught Place (the main downtown business hub)," Lal said. Lal said the four men have been identified as Muhammad Iqbal, Chand Qureshi, Mehboob and Muhammad Ayub and were driving down from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
"They told us that they had an office in the Vandana building (in Connaught Place) where they prepare documents and help pilgrims to go on the Haj. Lal said security was tight at Parliament even before the call was received. Visitors are being frisked and cars thoroughly checked. Uniformed men with binoculars are stationed atop the circular Parliament building while barricades and sandbags have been put up around the complex to thwart any terrorist strike. "Panic was created because wrong information was spread that Parliament was to be attacked," said Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjeet Narain. Thus, when the mystery caller’s message was flashed to Parliament, it created panic as security agencies took up position fearing that terrorists might try to enter the complex.
The Watch and Ward staff, responsible for security in Parliament, said they were satisfied with the quick response and alertness of the police. Said Purshottam Rao, officer on special duty, Parliament security:
"We received a call and everything went off well. We were ready. After this exercise we are confident that we are prepared for anything."
