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Basharat Peer in New Delhi
Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence has changed its strategy in India. The secret agency is now relying more on local criminals to carry out its disruptive activities.
The arrest in Delhi of six criminals headed by the Bihar-based Bhupinder Tyagi, who were acting upon the ISI's orders to eliminate tehelka.com's editor in chief Tarun Tejpal and his colleague Aniruddha Bahal, reveals this shift in strategy.
The portal's sensational expose on corruption in defence deals, in which key government functionaries were shown accepting bribes, had received wide publicity in the international media. The ISI believed the duo's killing would severely damage the government's image and may even lead to its fall.
"Let Indians kill Indians is the new strategy the ISI has adopted," Assistant Commissioner Police (Special Cell) Rajbir Singh told rediff.com.
Singh said the ISI would now use trained operatives only for bigger operations like the attack on Red Fort last year.
"The change in the ISI strategy, especially in Delhi, is due to the fact that its own men face the risk of being quickly spotted. Further, they do not want to risk their own operatives every time, considering the time and cost involved in training them," Singh added.
Of the six criminals arrested on Sunday, four are from Bawana village in north-east Delhi. These men used to provide logistics and shelter to Tyagi and one of his associates who visited Delhi frequently.
Intelligence sources told rediff.com that a member of Parliament from Bihar is suspected to have introduced Bhupinder Tyagi to a Nepal-based ISI agent, who then hired him to kill Tejpal.
When rediff.com quizzed Singh regarding the MP's involvement, he said: "Tyagi has given us some information and we are cross-checking it with our sources in Bihar. We are certainly investigating that angle but cannot reveal anything at this stage."
While in police custody, Tyagi told a television channel: "Had I not been caught, I would have certainly killed Tejpal. I was planning to ambush his car."
Tyagi said he wanted to buy weapons from the Nepal- based ISI agent, but he refused to give arms for money and asked him to carry out this assignment.
The Delhi police has recovered two AK-47 rifles, two pistols, one bullet-proof jacket, counterfeit currency worth Rs 25,000, a Tata Safari and pictures of Tarun Tejpal and Aniruddha Bahal from Tyagi and his associates.
ALSO SEE: Attempt to eliminate Tarun Tejpal foiled Attempt aimed at discrediting NDA govt: Police
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Complete coverage of tehelka.com expose on defence deals
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