Security forces have been put on high alert in view of intelligence reports that militants may try to strike at today's Beating the Retreat Ceremony to be attended by top national leaders including the President and the Prime Minister.

Delhi Police have launched a massive manhunt to nab the suspects after the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants, arrested here on Sunday, disclosed that three of their colleagues who were supposed to join them in order to execute their aborted plan to strike at the ceremony that marks the end of the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

Intelligence reports suggest that the militants may already be in the capital, preparing to strike.
The security forces are on high alert after learning the arrested LeT militants have procured passes for Beating the Retreat Ceremony.

The credentials of all those who have been issued passes are being scrutinised to ensure that the elusive militants do not manage to get entry at this evening's ceremony, held at Vijay Chowk, just opposite the President's House.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) had intercepted a radio transmission in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday between two LeT operators suggesting that the Indian security forces "should not be happy arresting some of their activists in Delhi since their remaining members of the team planned to show on on television what we can do."

Beating the Retreat Ceremony is telecast live. After their failure to strike during the Republic Day celebrations, the militants may try to strike today's ceremony for greater impact, the officials said.

The Special Cell of the Delhi Police have seized 6.5 kg of explosives, rocket propelled grenade, detonators and timers from the one Hizb-e-Islami and three Let militants after they swooped on them at their east Delhi hideout on Sunday.

Beating the Retreat is a colourful ceremony at sundown that marks the retreat of the army to the barracks on the completion of the Republic Day celebrations.

Since compared to Republic Day celebrations, Beating the Retreat Ceremony is a smaller affair, security forces feel the militants may have chosen it to target considering it being a softer target.