Red faces in Red Fort — George asks where’s security

Joint commissioner of police Ajay Chadha said that adjoining states have been asked to help trace the two militants. Having completed the combing operations in the Red Fort premises, the police suspect that the fugitives might have sneaked into Haryana or Uttar Pradesh.

‘‘What we don’t realise from the outside is that behind these high walls of the fort are vast open areas,’’ began Fernandes, trying to explain how the two militants got away. ‘‘There is no security arrangement inside the area. The men engaged the jawans, dropped their weapons when they were pursued and then disappeared.’’

Not buying the Lashkar-e-Toiba’s grand declaration of being behind the attack, Fernandes said he wanted proof. ‘‘We are investigating the material that has been found and will decide only after the probe is over,’’ he clarified, adding that ‘‘there was no evidence to show that the Lashkar had done this’’.

Home Minister L K Advani, meanwhile said that the strike by the Lashkar-e-Toiba was to ‘‘sabotage’’ the peace process initiated by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir. ‘‘Fidayeen (suicide) squad attacks after the Kargil conflict had been on the increase because there are sections whose existence depends on continuance of militancy,’’ he said, adding that these organisations have been regularly opposing the peace initiatives, including the Ramzan ceasefire.

The police don’t have all the answers but 24 hours after the attack, they had an official version. Still unsure about how the two militants entered the premisessome said they slipped in as visitors to the sound ad light showthe police say that the duo entered the fort around 9 pm and first went to the ASC Depot, where they shot dead the guard Abdullah Thakur.

On hearing the gunshot, Combatant Uma Shankar went in their direction. But the militants intercepted him at MP Lines. He was also shot dead. Thereafter, they headed towards ASI and it seems that wanted to cut across it. There they reached a room, where they encountered Naik Ashok Kumar, who was also caught unawares and shot dead with the assault rifles. A number of rounds were also reportedly fired near the Commanding Officer’s house and the Museum.Though the Army’s quick reaction team reportedly retaliated and fired several rounds, militants fled towards Ring Road.

The massive combing operation launched after the incident yielded 40 spent cartridges, two empty magazines and one loaded magazine. One Kalashnikov was also recovered from Vijay Ghat. The police said they have found clues such as ammunition and 500-rupee notes and a note which has a mobile phone number written on it.