UP, Assam, Gujarat and Maharashtra on high alert

Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Gujarat were put on high alert with extra security in important buildings and crowded places following the terrorist attack in Gurdaspur on Monday.

In Uttar Pradesh, Security was strengthened in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura, while vigilance in districts along the porous Indo-Nepal border was stepped up, official sources here said.

Districts like Lakhimpur-Kheri, Maharajganj, Siddharth Nagar, Baharaich saw intense patrolling in the wake of the attacks in Punjab. “A strict vigil has been maintained in the border areas,” a senior home department official said.

Devashish Panda, Principal Secretary in state home department, said intelligence and district police have been maintaining high watch since Monday’s terror attack. Police are also checking vehicles on the Delhi-UP border, sources said.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday sounded a red alert across the state and requested the Centre to strengthen the force manning the international border that the state shares with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

“The Punjab attack is very unfortunate and we condemn it. We have issued a red alert across the state following the attack, we have declared red alert, we have inputs of some terror threats and we want more patrolling along the international border,” Gogoi told reporters at a press conference in Guwahati.

Gogoi further went on to say that his state is facing various forms of terror – the ethnic militancy, the ULFA, the Islamic radial forces and even the right-wong terror modules are active in the state. “ULFA, NDFB, Jihadis – all are trying to disturb the peace and development of the state. However, we have been able to control them successfully. We have sought more central forces to better manage the law and order situation,” Mr Gogoi added.

Gogoi is also worried with an Advisory from New Delhi that the Islamic State might try to set up sleeper cells in the state that has a huge muslim population.

In Gujarat, Rajni Patel, Minister of state for Home, said, “We have declared high alert in Gujarat and request people to cooperate with the police.” He also asked the citizens to stay away from rumours and inform the authorities if they find anything or anyone suspicious.

Gujarat has been receiving intelligence inputs which have suggested it to maintain extra 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 the wake of Gurdaspur attacks.

Maharashtra security
Security was beefed up in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra in the wake of scheduled hanging of death row convict Yakub Memon later this week and the ghastly terror attack in Punjab.

The presence of uniformed police personnel has been increased on roads. Tight security is being maintained in places like Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, all railway stations and terminus, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and Mumbai Central, the Mumbai Port and the adjoining Nhava Sheva Port.

Security at strategic installations like the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and Western Naval Command has also been beefed up. Similar measures were taken at Suburban network of the Central Railway and Western Railway. Security at religious places like Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahim Church, Haji Ali, Babulnath temple among others has been increased.