‘Khatarnak Vastu’ warnings return: Red Fort blast prompts Delhi Police to push citizens to stay alert; tech-driven alerts target modern threats

NEW DELHI: The Nov 10 blast has prompted Delhi Police to resurrect a crucial set of public-safety warnings.

For the past 14 years, Delhiites had grown accustomed to a state of relative calm, with the last major terror attack in the city — a 2011 blast at the high court that claimed 15 lives and left 79 people injured — having nearly faded from collective memory. With it, the once-ubiquitous police advisories — bold, stark reminders to watch out for unattended bags and flag suspicious people and objects — slowly became obsolete.

Public address announcements asking people to be watchful of "khatarnak vastu (dangerous objects)" often paired with visible security measures like police personnel boarding buses and instructing passengers to scan the space under their seats were once key features of high-profile public safety and anti-terrorism campaigns, particularly in the years at the turn of the millennium when several attacks rocked the capital.

Delhi Police's renewed focus is a throwback to that anxious time, but with a modern digital twist. Utilising their social media channels, it is aggressively pushing messages that demand immediate public action. Posts on X and Instagram urge citizen vigilance — the mantra is "See Something, Say Something" — and encourage the public to look out for out-of-place objects like unattended bags, boxes or haphazardly parked vehicles.


The initiative focuses on re-sensitising people to the risk of terrorism that lurks in a major city. The social media posts emphasise on reporting unusual activity, expanding the focus from keeping an eye on suspicious objects and people. The lens now is on individuals who are found conducting surveillance in public places, acting in a nervous manner, or attempting to abandon an item.

"The Nov 10 attack is a stark reminder that the threat of terror has not vanished but has evolved, underscoring the need for renewed public participation in security," a senior police officer said.

Even as National Investigation Agency tracks the terror module behind the blast and its links to terror outfits like Jaish-e-Muhammed, the city's immediate defence relies on millions of vigilant eyes and ears. The ghosts of the past threats are back, and this time, police are ensuring that no one ignores their warning call.



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