Congress asks UP government to remain alert

New Delhi, Jan 1 (UNI) Expressing shock at the terrorist attack on a CRPF camp in Rampur in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress Party today asked the Centre and the state government to step up security arrangements all over the state, which is "particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi condemned the attack as "heinour and barbaric." "Time has come for taking appropriate security measures both by the Union Home Ministry as also by the UP state Police force," AICC General Secretary in charge of media M Veerappa Moily said here today, while pointing out that the state government should be alert and take measures including sharing of intelligence information.

Warning the UP government that "any laxity on this count will be dangerous, Mr Moily assured the Centre would provide all necessary help to state governments to tackle terrorism.

Seven CRPF personnel and one civilian were killed during a terrorist attack on a CRPF camp near Bareilly early today.

Mr Moily said the Rampur attack comes nearly a month after series of blasts ripped through three court premises in UP, killing 13 people.

In this context, he cited the statement of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, made at the recent Conference of Chief Ministers on National Security issues, asking states to remain alert and take all coordinated measures.

National Security Adviser M K Narayanan had also written to the states about the dangers to the national security and to take firm measures to avert any recurrence of terrorist attacks, Mr Moily pointed out.

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