MHA issues advisory to states to increase vigilance, maintain peac

New Delhi, Jul 28 (UNI) To prevent any communal backlash in view of serial blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore and prevent recurrence of such terror incidents, the centre has issued an advisory to all states to increase vigilance and take precautionary measures to maintain peace and communal harmony.

The Home Ministry issued an advisory yesterday to all states and Union territories to maintain ground level vigilance particularly in crowded areas and sensitive locations. They have also been advised to increase policing at ground level and take precautionary measures to ensure peace and harmony and maintain law and order, a ministry spokesman said here today.

The states have been asked to hold meeting of religious groups, their leaders and local people to allay any apprehensions and misunderstanding and prevent any communal conflagarations. They have also been asked to improve the sense of security among people by taking them into confidence.

The advisory has been issued following 16 blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26 in which 49 people died and 212 injured of which 141 injured were still undergoing treatment in various hospitals of the city.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Shivraj Patil visited these injured in hospital today and inquired about their health.

The situation in the state is ''tense but under control.'' The Special Secretary (Internal Security) M L Kumawat has also reached Ahmedabad to coordinate in the investigation of the serial blasts with the Gujarat Government. The blasts, which is suspected to be handiwork of Lashkar-e-Tayeba with the help of local SIMI network, caused widespread loss of life and injury.

Earlier, two cars loaded with live bombs and explosives used for making bombs were found in Surat yesterday. The four live bombs were defused by the BDD squad.

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