Indian intelligence agencies have alerted Delhi police to potential attacks on US President Barack Obama by Maldivian or Sri Lankan nationals, reports the Hindustan Times.
The paper reported that “a close watch” is being kept on unidentified Sri Lankan and Maldivian nationals in India, as well as those whose visas have expired.
President Obama arrived in Delhi this morning to an unprecedented security operation which is reported to include 40,000 security personnel, 15,000 new security cameras, and door-to-door house checks.
As well as holding meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee, Obama will become the first US President to be chief guest during tomorrow’s Republic Day parade.
It is during the parade that Indian security agencies have been warned Obama may be targetted by anti-american elements from Sri Lanka and Maldives, as well as drawing black flag protest from Hindu nationalist groups.
“Being a high valued target, a high degree of threat is perceived to Obama from radical Islamist outfits like Al-Qaeda, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed,” a senior Delhi police officer told the Hindustan Times.
Concerns about growing radicalism in the Maldives have grown over the past twelve months, with police confirming recently that over 50 Maldivians had travelled abroad for jihad.
The police do not yet know who the most vulnerable groups to radicalisation are in the Maldives, said Police Commissioner Hussein Waheed, pointing out recent jihadis included both genders, urban and rural areas, and people of all ages.
When asked if radicalised groups posed a domestic terrorist threat, Waheed said the police were tracking individuals associated with foreign militant groups.
“We know who the foreign militants are. We are monitoring their activities. My hope is, I believe we will be able to monitor them to the extent they are unable to [present a threat] in the Maldives.”
Last November, a jihadist group called Bilad Al Sham Media (BASM) – which describes itself as ‘Maldivians in Syria’ – revealed that a fifth Maldivian had died in Syria.
BASM has claimed to be linked with the Jabhat al-Nusra, an Al Qaeda affiliate group in Syria and Iraq.
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Maldivains (and Bhutanis, Nepalese, Sri Lanka) should thank any unilateral move by India to distance itself from others. The countries in the region will prosper themselves and its better if India keep out of the way.
Thank you
Speak for yourself and your country. With the change in regime in SL , your drug cartels honeymoon with Rajapkase is over . Nepal is having its own issues with the agreement on its new Constitution and Bhutan lives peacefully as ever.
I have been calling for years for our visa office in Male to be shut down permanently.
Why don't you true believers travel to other '100% muslim' countries for higher studies, medical treatment and buying a wife from a poor muslim family?Pakistan is the perfect destination for Maldivians. Same hate filled religious beliefs. Same drugged up youth. Same dumb belief that you have arab ancestry. Karachi also has good air links with Saudi for umrah and Syria for jihad.
Don't all rush now.
@MissIndia
"Buying wives" often means buying underage slaves captured from Iraq and Syria.
@MissIndia.
We don't need cow worshipers help and your moron .
@hero
You sure didn't mind the help last month when your heroes couldn't provide running water for ten days! And it's "you are=you're" a moron.
Next time your water treatment plant conks out, send an sos to your sunni brothers in Islamabad and not to New Delhi.
Why do we cow worshippers have to constantly bail you out? Either there's a coup or your taps have dried up and you cannot flush your loo.
Gratitude for FREE ASSISTANCE from neighbouring countries does not seem to be a strong Maldivian trait. We should have billed you for the air and sea operation.
Next time ring Islamabad.
@MissIndia
I hear you guys are having some economic fluctuations due to the falling oil prices.
You should charge for the whole thing, just to laugh at hero and his ilk.