States, UTs asked to maintain tight vigil ahead of I-day

Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, Union Home Ministry has asked all the states and union territories to maintain a tight vigil especially along the coastal areas which may be used by Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba to infiltrate.

Intelligence reports indicated that besides the national capital, Kolkata and Hyderabad are on the hit list of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba, sources said.

A hawk-eye vigil was being maintained in and around Delhi, where Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will hoist the tri-colour at the historic Red Fort, official sources said.

The area around the Red Fort which mainly consists of walled city has been sanitised and police informers deployed to keep a tab on any movement of anti-national elements.

Besides heavy deployment of gun-totting commandos from Delhi Police, para-military and elite National Security Guards, air defence guns would be kept in readiness to ensure that no flying object hovers over the venue on August 15.

The Home Ministry asked states to take adequate measures to ensure special security arrangements at the venues where the national flag would be unfurled, sources said.

The security establishment has also asked the northeastern states to maintain a strict vigil against possible attacks from Left wing terror groups and insurgents.

Intelligence agencies have given specific inputs that LeT, responsible for innumerable terror strikes including the 26/11 attacks, is planning to target the three metros in the run-up to the Independence Day, the official said.

The Centre has already shared the information with the governments of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh besides informing Delhi Police for necessary action.

The Home Ministry advised the states to conduct searches and regular screening at all the exit and entry points of major cities and keep a strict watch on anti-national elements.

The Intelligence input shared included an interrogation report of some arrested terrorists from LoC who claimed that they had been tasked to meet some of the terror cells in these cities to carry out attacks ahead of the Independence Day.

Security at important public places and vital installations, including Delhi Metro and railway stations, bus terminals and crowded market places have been tightened.
Electronic surveillance has been increased and extra security cover extended to all the religious places in the capital and air space been closed for traffic.

Besides, patrolling by Sashastra Seema Bal and police personnel has been enhanced along the porous Indo-Nepal border to prevent Nepali Maoists from sneaking into the Indian territory to aid any sinister designs.