The Lashkar-e-Tayiba militants nabbed in Delhi on the eve of New Year were planning to carry out coordinated blasts, using improvised explosive devices, in crowded places in Delhi.

Samiullah Sheikh (21) and Ali Mohammed Sheikh (32) were carrying 2 kg of IEDs, Joint Commissioner of Police Karnal Singh said.

The two ultras were brothers and their father was an active member of Hizbul Mujahideen, he said.

The duo, hailing from Baramulla, were nabbed just minutes before they were to plant two toy-car shaped bombs in crowded Paharganj area next to New Delhi Railway Station.

The area is a few hundred metres away from Connaught Place where thousands of revellers were about to gather for New Year celebrations.

The IEDs, containing 2 kg of plastic explosives, were recovered from their bags, Singh said.

Terrorists had struck in Paharganj on the eve of Diwali last year, triggering an explosion in which dozens of festival shoppers were killed.