Taxi hired from Pathankot missing, driver found dead; Delhi Police issues alert

Delhi Police has also tweeted images of the three men who hired the white Alto taxi from Pathankot

Delhi Police today issued an alert after the driver of a taxi hired by three unidentified persons from Pathankot was found dead in Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh, in the aftermath of the airbase attack.

The taxi driver, identified as Vijay Kumar, a resident of Gaggal village in Kangra district, was found dead on Wednesday at the Kalta bridge in Kangra and his taxi missing, police said.

"A white colour Alto taxi no. HP 01D 2440 was hired from Pathankot by three unknown people. The driver of the taxi, Vijay Kumar from Gaggal, Kangada was found dead on 20 Jan 2016 at the Kalta Bridge, Dist. Kangada. The Alto car is missing. Search operations are on. Stay Alert!" the pinned tweet on Delhi Police's official handle read.

Asked on the threat perception, Delhi police Commissioner B S Bassi urged people in the city to remain alert without disclosing any further details citing security concerns.

The alert was issued in the backdrop of the attack on IAF base in Pathankot where terrorists had first killed a cab driver and robbed his car before launching the strike.

Delhi Police has approached media houses in helping it find the car and spread the alert message through retweets.

This is also the second alert about a stolen vehicle in the NCR region.

Early on Wednesday, a blue-beacon flashing SUV of a senior IPS officer was stolen in Noida. 

"Official vehicle white Tata Safari with blue light of IG ITBP stolen from sector 23 Noida(nn the outskirts of Delhi) last night.CH01GA2915. Alert sounded."

"All requested to share info if any with Delhi 100 or Noida SSP or 100 reg this vehicle if spotted. Join hands to keep Delhi safe. Retweet pl" the Delhi Police said on its official twitter handle in an attempt to inform people at large.

They said the Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) bearing registration number CH-01 GA 2915 of ITBP Inspector General (IG) Anand Swarup was stolen from his Sector-23 residence in the intervening hours of January 19-20.

There have been instances in the past when vehicles with beacon, including during the Parliament attack, were used to launch terror attacks by hoodwinking security officials.