Palace on Wheels on terror radar: Centre

The home ministry has issued an alert to security agencies about a possible terrorist plot to attack Palace on Wheels, a luxury train that is a favourite with foreign tourists.

The railway protection force and police forces of Delhi, Rajasthan and UP have been asked to increase protection to the tourist train, ministry sources said.

The alert was issued after the interrogation of Salman Ahmed, the alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist arrested a few days ago from Sidharthnagar, close to Nepal border. The home ministry has also warned of a terrorist plan to target Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore within a week. Sources said Ahmed told interrogators about Delhi being a target, and not Kolkata, as reported by newspapers. Last week, the home ministry had issued a terror alert to Kolkata Police, but that was based on inputs from the army.

Salman Ahmed alias Chhotu, 21, told interrogators that IM terrorists were planning major attacks on three cities within a week and was also planning to target the Palace on Wheels. He revealed that terrorists were planning to remove one of the tracks on the route taken by the luxury train. The Palace on Wheels, rated among the finest luxury train journeys in the world,  starts its eight-day trip from Delhi and travels to all famous destinations in Rajasthan before touching on Agra and returning to Delhi.

Despite the claims of interrogators about Ahmed confessing to a terror attack on Palace on Wheels and three cities, there is no evidence to corroborate it, sources said.