Red Fort attack preparation in the works for 3 years

By _shalini oraon

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The Shadow Over the Ramparts: The Three-Year Plot to Breach India’s Symbol of Sovereignty

The Red Fort in Delhi is not merely a monument of red sandstone; it is the pulsating heart of India’s sovereignty. It is from its ramparts that the Prime Minister addresses the nation every Independence Day, a tradition steeped in the symbolism of freedom and resilience. This profound significance is precisely what made it the ultimate prize for terrorists seeking to strike at the very soul of the nation. The December 2000 attack on the Fort was not a spontaneous act of violence but the culmination of a meticulous, three-year-long conspiracy, a chilling testament to the patience and planning of terrorist networks.

The genesis of the plot can be traced back to the simmering tensions of the late 1990s. The landscape of terrorism in South Asia was undergoing a shift, with groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) gaining prominence and sophistication. Their objective was clear: to internationalize the Kashmir issue and bleed India through a thousand cuts. An attack on a symbol as potent as the Red Fort would achieve that goal spectacularly. The planning, therefore, began not in the bylanes of Delhi, but in the terror camps of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where the blueprint for an audacious assault was first conceived.

Phase One: The Blueprint of Terror (1997-1999)

The initial phase was one of reconnaissance and resource allocation. Senior operatives within LeT, in close coordination with their handlers in Pakistan, identified the Red Fort as a target of high symbolic value. Their intelligence suggested that while the Fort was a heavily guarded military area (it houses an operational unit of the Indian Army), its perimeter security had vulnerabilities, especially along the Yamuna River side.

During this period, the key players were groomed. This included:

1. The Financiers and Handlers: Based across the border, they ensured a steady flow of funds through hawala networks, a shadowy system of money transfer that leaves little paper trail. This money was crucial for renting safe houses, purchasing vehicles, and funding the daily expenses of the sleeper cells being activated in India.
2. The Recruits: Young men, often radicalized in madrassas and trained in guerrilla warfare, were selected for their dedication and ability to blend in. They underwent specialized training in urban warfare, stealth navigation, and the use of sophisticated arms and communication equipment.

The plan was simple in objective but complex in execution: infiltrate a highly motivated team into Delhi, have them establish a covert presence, conduct detailed ground reconnaissance, and then launch a synchronized attack designed to cause maximum casualties and seize the fort, even if briefly, to hoist a flag of their own.

Phase Two: Infiltration and Establishment of the Sleeper Cell (1999-2000)

With the blueprint in place, the operational phase began. This involved the dangerous task of infiltrating the terrorists into India. Using a combination of routes—crossing the porous border in Jammu and Kashmir, and sometimes entering via Nepal with forged documents—the operatives made their way to the national capital region.

The leader of this on-ground module was a man known by the alias Ashfaq, a Pakistani national and a hardened LeT operative. His task was to create a functional and invisible sleeper cell in Delhi. For nearly a year, the cell members lived under assumed identities, renting accommodations in nondescript neighborhoods, avoiding drawing attention to themselves. They meticulously studied the Fort:

· Mapping the Terrain: They noted the timing of the guard changes, the patterns of patrols by the Delhi Police and the Army, the location of watchtowers, and the strength of the forces stationed inside.
· Identifying Vulnerabilities: Their most critical finding was the relative lack of vigilance on the riverine side of the Fort. The high walls along the Yamuna were not as well-lit or frequently patrolled as the main entrances, providing a potential point of entry and exit.
· Weapon Procurement: A separate arm of the network was tasked with procuring the arsenal. This included AK-47 rifles, grenades, explosives, and ammunition. These weapons were not smuggled in a single consignment but in smaller, less detectable lots over several months, stored in secure locations until D-Day.

This phase was a masterclass in patience. The operatives lived dual lives, their mundane daily routines masking the sinister purpose that consumed them. They communicated with their handlers using coded language and frequently changing SIM cards to evade the nascent surveillance capabilities of Indian agencies.

Phase Three: The Final Countdown and Execution (December 2000)

By late 2000, the pieces were in place. The cell had its weapons, its intelligence was current, and the order from across the border was given. The date was set for a time when the nation’s guard was slightly lowered—not on a major national holiday, but on a regular Friday, the 22nd of December.

On the evening of the attack, the operatives, likely numbering four to six, assembled at a predetermined location. They armed themselves, went over the plan one final time, and under the cover of darkness, made their way to the Fort. Utilizing the intelligence gathered over months, they approached from the Yamuna side. Using ropes and grappling hooks, they scaled the walls, bypassing the main security checkpoints.

Just before 10:00 PM, they opened fire. The initial targets were the guards and personnel of the 7th Battalion of the Rajputana Rifles, which was stationed inside the complex. The sound of AK-47 fire and grenade explosions shattered the quiet of the night. In the ensuing chaos, the terrorists moved through the complex, engaging in fierce gunfights with the surprised security forces.

The attack lasted for about 45 minutes, but its impact was seismic. Two soldiers and one civilian were killed. The terrorists, as per their escape plan, retreated the way they had come, disappearing into the darkness of the riverbank. They had achieved their primary objective: they had breached the impregnable.

The Aftermath and the Unraveling

While the immediate physical damage was contained, the psychological blow was severe. India’s most secure monument, a symbol of its power, had been violated. The investigation that followed was one of the largest of its time. The breakthrough came with the arrest of Ashfaq and other cell members in subsequent weeks, leading to a series of raids across the country. The interrogation transcripts painted a detailed picture of the three-year-long conspiracy, revealing the depth of the planning, the sophistication of the network, and the chilling patience of its architects.

The Red Fort attack of 2000 was a watershed moment. It exposed critical gaps in the security of even the most high-profile national symbols. It forced a complete overhaul of security protocols around vital installations, leading to the deployment of more advanced surveillance technology, heightened perimeter security, and better inter-agency coordination.

More than two decades later, the attack stands as a grim reminder. It is a case study in how terrorism is not an act of impulsive rage but a patient, calculated project. The three-year shadow that fell over the ramparts of the Red Fort was a warning that the enemies of the state are willing to play a long game, and that national security must always be several moves ahead. The fort still stands, proud and resilient, but the memory of the night it was breached continues to inform and shape India’s counter-terrorism strategy to this day.