Jama Masjid shooting: US posts security advisory

NEW DELHI - With the shooting near the historic Jama Masjid Sunday morning renewing security concerns about the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, the US Sunday issued an advisory to its citizens in India asking them to “maintain a heightened situational awareness”.

“US citizens are urged to always practice good security, maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile,” said the advisory posed on the US embassy website.

“US citizens are advised to monitor local news reports and consider the level of security present when visiting public places, including religious sites,” it said.

The US intelligence agencies have recently warned the Indian authorities about the possibility of another terror attack in India.

Two Taiwanese tourists were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire near the Jama Masjid here Sunday morning, creating a scare ahead of the Commonwealth Games that will see the participation of some 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 nations and territories.

Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei, both in their 20s, were shot in the head and stomach respectively when the gunmen fired at a bus from which a group of tourists was alighting, police and eyewitnesses said.

The shooting, that took place barely two weeks before the Games, have renewed public scrutiny for security arrangements for the biggest sporting event Delhi will host since the 1982 Asian Games.

Last week, top Indian officials, including Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, briefed ambassadors from Commonwealth countries and allayed their concerns over security for the mega-sporting event.

Although Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit downplayed Sunday’s incident, there are apprehensions that it could embolden some skeptics to skip the Delhi Games.

New Zealand chef de mission Dave Currie is currently in Delhi to check the facilities and the security situation of the Games Village. Based on Currie’s report, the New Zealand Olympic Committee would decide whether to go ahead with the trip or not.

Australia has said it would send a team to the Games in as the security risk was “acceptable” despite a warning from a private firm of an 80 percent chance of a terrorist attack.