Terror alert in Kochi

The meeting held at the Ernakulam North police station decided to intensify night patrolling along the coasts as well as the backwaters besides checking of all vehicles entering the city.

Hotels and lodges are being combed and the movement of strangers monitored. Security for vital installations like the Port Trust, Southern Naval Command and Vallarpadom Container Terminal as well as airport and railway stations has been intensified. City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said that security had been beefed up at all public gathering points in the Jew Street and Synagogue at Mattancherry as well as Fort Kochi.

The alert issued by the Home Ministry is based on a report by the National Investigation Agency of the interrogation of the Indian Mujahideen suspect Salman Ahmed and input from the inquiry into Lashkar conduits David Headley and Tahawwur Husain Rana. Intelligence agencies have information that the LeT in collusion with the IM could carry out strikes in Kochi.