Alert in UP, security beefed up at Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Taj

Lucknow, July 12 (UNI) Admitting that the presence of terrorist modules in Uttar Pradesh could not be ruled out, the state government today said all possible security steps have been taken in the wake of Mumbai blasts, which include strict monitoring over the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

''We are monitoring many characters, which could be suspected to be linked to last evening blasts claimed 183 lives in Mumbai,'' Uttar Pradesh principal secreatry (Home) S K Agarwal and DGP Bua Singh told a joint news conference here this afternoon.

Without divulging further details, the officers said the security drill had been heightened and strict vigil was being maintained all over the state.

They said a high alert had been sounded in Uttar Pradesh with special security plans in place at the Ram Janmbhoomi complex in Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath at Varanasi and Mathura, besides Taj Mahal and other communally sensitive towns.

Intensive checks are being conducted at railway stations and in trains following serial bomb blasts in the sub-urban trains in Mumbai, Mr Singh said.

To a specific query about SIMI, particularly after its name figured as the prime suspect in the Mumbai blasts, the senior officials said Uttar Pradesh would move on with the ban on the organisation as per the centres notification in this regard.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh had expresed its reservation about supporting the ban since the organisation was not involved in ''any activities'' and neither had the state government received any complaint against SIMI.

Mr Agarwal however, clarified the ban on SIMI was pursued by the sate government vigorously and its possible hideouts were raided and notices pasted on its offices all over the state.

In reply to a other question, he denied having any intelligence inputs about apparehension of terrorist attack in Uttar Pradesh.

''Keeping in view the generality of the situation, we are taking utmost precautions,'' he added.

UP has witnessed some of the worst terrorists attack including the one in Ayodhya in July last year followed by serial bomb blasts in Sankatmochan temple and other places in Varanasi on March 7 this year.

UNI SB/MB VS AK ND1626