Security at all strategic points, vital installations and places with high footfall has been beefed up in Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat and areas bordering these States following Intelligence about ten Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) terrorists having sneaked into the country through the western State for a strike on Maha Shivaratri. The Centre has rushed to Gujarat four teams of the National Security Guard (NSG), one of which will specifically guard the famed Somnath Temple, where a cultural programme scheduled for the day has also been cancelled.
Security was also beefed up at Kolkata’s NSC Bose International Airport following an email threat to the airport manager saying it would be blown up within 24 hours. The email came early on Sunday and is claimed to have been sent from Germany. Alert has also been sounded in other metros and Jammu & Kashmir.
With the possibility of the terrorists sneaking into the national Capital too not being ruled out, the Delhi Police has increased vigil near important buildings and military installations while security arrangements have been stepped up near prominent malls, hospitals, schools and colleges. The police are also ensuring that CCTV cameras at all places with high footfall, like popular markets in the city and metro stations are functional. Patrolling across the city too has been intensified.
Meanwhile, one man was detained by the police at Panagarh Air Base in Burdwan district for loitering near the Air Force camp, sources said. “The villagers alerted the Air Force Police when they saw two strangers loitering in the area aimlessly,” police sources said adding one person was picked up and handed over to the police by the villagers, while there was a hunt on for the other person.
“The man is being interrogated. The base is absolutely safe,” the sources said, thanking the villagers for their alertness particularly after the Pathankot incident.
In Gujarat, DGP PC Thakur said the NSG squads have been deployed in the State following a terror alert. “Of the four NSG teams, three would be kept on standby mode in Ahmedabad and one has been positioned at the famous Somnath Temple in the wake of the Maha Shivaratri festival (on Monday), said the State police chief.
Gujarat has been on high alert from late Saturday evening following National Security Adviser (NSA) of Pakistan, NK Janjua’s input to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on JeM and leT militants’ possible entry into Gujarat. The Intelligence report revealed that these are fidayeen militants and their purpose is to attack some of the strategic locations in the State.
Of these ten terrorists, a few might have entered the State through the Kutch border. This comes in the backdrop of five Pakistani boats being found abandoned at the Sir Creek area since December last year. In fact, the fifth boat was traced by a patrolling team of Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday itself near Koteshwar coast in the Arabian Sea.
An emergency meeting of the top officials of security agencies including Army, Navy, Air Force, BSF, Coast Guards and Gujarat Police was held in Gandhinagar soon after the alert. District police chiefs from border and coastal districts were involved in this meeting through video conferencing.
Thakur too responded quickly and cancelled all leave of the State police force with immediate effect by issuing a circular on Saturday evening. As per the circular those who are already on leave have also been ordered to report back to their respective headquarters as soon as possible.
Sources in the Indian Navy said the Navy and Coast Guard are in a high state of alert and readiness. The patrolling on the high sea has been intensified.
“Gujarat police have intensified patrolling on highways coupled with combing operations across locations. We are on high alert and prepared to deal any situation. Ahmedabad Crime Branch has formed teams following terror alert and Maha Shivratri festival,” he said, adding that police had to fire one round at a car in Central Gujarat as the driver refused to stop at a checking point near Mahudha. Due to police firing one person was injured and taken to a hospital in Vadodara, he informed.
Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel held two off Porbander coast, said the police, adding that one of the two persons is Canadian citizen and police are investigating their credentials. Vigil at bordering Kutch and Banaskantha district has been intensified. Besides inter-state border points with Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have been put under surveillance by multiple security agencies.
Defence bases in the state, petroleum refineries - Jamnagar and Koyali near Vadodara, important religious places like Dwarka, Somnath, Dakor, Akshardham in Gandhinagar, Sardar Sarovardam and ONGC establishments have been put under high checking.