NEW DELHI: Delhi has been put on high alert ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition on Saturday as intelligence agencies have warned of attempts to disturb peace and harmony in the capital.

While there are inputs of terror strikes at places of prominence, the bigger threat is that the city may witness communal tensions in the coming days, a source said.

The police have enforced heavy barricading across the capital. All vehicles are being checked thoroughly. The police are also keeping a close watch on the vehicles coming from Uttar Pradesh. A vigil is being maintained on Delhi-UP borders in Noida and Ghaziabad, sources added. Security at diplomatic establishments and markets has also been stepped up.

Vehicle numbers belonging to Faizabad district in UP in particular are under the scanner, sources said. The Babri Masjid located in Faizabad district was demolished by a mob on December 6, 1992.

Sources said that Delhi had been on high alert ever since US president Barack Obama gave his nod to attend the Republic Day celebrations. The security drill will continue till January 26 as the intelligence and security agencies have received “very strong inputs” of a possible attempt to strike a “significant target” by the members of SIMI and Lashkar-e-Toiba .

The fact that both PM Narendra Modi and Obama will be present at Rajpath has increased the threat perception to R-Day as the two are on the hit list of many terror groups, including ISIS and Al Qaida.

Recently, outfits like Ansar-Ul-Tawhid Fi Bilad Al Hind (AuT), an offshoot of the Indian Mujahideen, had also pledged their support to the Islamic State and vowed to avenge the death of the terrorists killed in the Batla House encounter.

Senior police officers said that security at markets such as Chawri Bazar, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh, Chandni Chowk, Sarojini Nagar and Paharganj had been reviewed and hawk-eye vigil was being maintained at Metro stations and other vital installations.

The embassies and government installations have been notified and the police have been instructed to ensure there are no unclaimed vehicles parked around them. The eyes-and-ears scheme, which involves the participation of locals in different areas, has been activated to get information on any suspicious movement, an officer said. The sellers of ammonium nitrate have been asked to maintain proper logs and identification details of buyers and inform police about those who order this substance in huge quantities.