Security beefed up as States sound high alert

A high alert has been sounded across the country including Delhi, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra in the wake of terrorist attack in Gurdaspur district of Punjab on Monday in which seven people, including a Superintendent of Police, were killed.Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Assam Government has sounded a high alert across the State to check any attempt by the anti-national forces.

He said that the anti-national forces have always been trying to disrupt the peace in the State but the Government has been on alert to foil any such attempts. "There are different militant factions in Assam including the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa, the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) and other homegrown terror groups. Besides there are Jehadi forces operating in the State. Considering all these factors, we have sounded a high alert," Gogoi said in a press conference.

"However, despite the presence of Jehadi elements, they are yet to become a potent threat to the State yet," he said adding that the jihadi operatives haven't been able to make any toehold in the State so far. "Our Government is proactively pursuing against any threat from the militant groups," Gogoi added.

The Chief Minister has also given clean chit to State's madrassas saying that the State Government has no report on these institutions harbouring terror activities.

The high alert assumes significance as the entire region has been witnessing a surge in militant activities including the killing of 18 soldiers by the NSCN (IM) militants in Manipur last month. Following this the anti-talk faction of the Ulfa had also targeted the Hindi speaking people in Assam's Tinsukia district leaving two persons dead.

Meanwhile, the Intelligence agencies have warned of militant groups trying to trigger violence in the run-up to the Independence Day. The militant outfits in Assam and other parts of the northeastern States normally boycott the Day and try to carry out subversive activities on that day.The Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had recently reviewed the security scenario of the northeastern States while meeting the Chief Ministers of the States recently and discussed the issues related to expansion of Islamic militants in the region in general and Assam in particular.

In Gujarat Rajni Patel, Minister of State for Home, said, "We have declared high alert in Gujarat and requested people to cooperate with the police." He also asked the citizens to be cautious of rumours and inform the authorities if they find anything or anyone suspicious. Gujarat has been receiving intelligence inputs to maintain vigil, as it shares a land and sea border with Pakistan. The BSF, Coast Guard and Marine police too were asked to remain extra vigilant in wake of Gurdaspur attacks. "We keep getting intelligence inputs about Gujarat being a prime target for terrorist activities and maintain extra vigil. However, with today's incident, we put our entire machinery in the State on high alert," police official said on condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra police beefed up security in the cities of Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik and Nagpur.“After the terror attack in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, the State Home department has sounded a high alert in the five major cities of the State. Apart from the existing police force in the five cities, the State Government has kept in readiness the State Reserve Police Force and Home Guards for deployment at a short notice," a State home ministry official said.

Talking to media persons here, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said that in view of the terror attack in Gurdaspur district and also the impending execution death-row convict Yakub Memon in the 1993 serial blasts case, the Mumbai police was not taking any chances. "We have kept our forces on a high alert in the city," he said.

The city police have enhanced security at religious places like Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahim Church, Haji Ali, Babulnath temple in the city.