Security beefed up across nation for I-Day, Janmashtami

New Delhi, Aug 13: An unprecedented security umbrella has been thrown across the nation in view of the US advisory to its citizens that foreign terrorists plan to carry out a series of bomb attacks in India in the run up to the Independence Day and Janmashtami.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made at religious places, vital installations, airports, railways stations shopping malls and cineplexes to ensure the safety of people, still recovering from the shock of the serial bomb blasts in Mumbai on July 11, in which about 200 people were killed.

What has added to the worries of the security agencies is the unearthing of a plot in the United Kingdom on Thursday to blow up as many as 10 US-bound planes mid air.

Reports received from different states suggest Ayodhya's Ram Lalla temple, Mathura's Krishna Janmasthali, Chhattisgarh's Naxalite-infested tribal areas, border areas with Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh were being kept under strict vigil, particularly all international airports following the midair threat in London.

The US has already warned that foreign terrorists, possibly including members of the Al Qaeda, plann to carry out a series of bomb attacks in and around Delhi and Mumbai in the days leading up to August 15.

In Uttar Pradesh, additional paramilitary and police have been deployed at Mathura's Krishna Janmasthali to prevent any untoward incident during the festival.

In Ayodhya, forces were already on high alert around the Ram Lalla temple, which was a target of fidayeen attack on July 5 last year year. No one can park a vehicle within 800 meters of the complex.

In Lucknow, air force choppers would keep a vigil around Vidhan Sabha Marg, where the main Independence Day function would be held.

State Chief Secretary Naveen Chandra Bajpai told UNI, ''We are constantly reviewing the situation and have prepared a fool-proof plan to counter any eventuality.'' He said there was no need to sound an alert after the US warning Uttar Pradesh as Uttat Pradesh was always in a state of preparedness against terrorism.

In Jammu, tight security arrangements were being made for for the smooth celebration of Indepnedence Day function in the militancy-infested border district of Rajouri.

In order to ensure massive public participation, the main function will be held at Sports Stadium, Kheora, this year.

Chhattisgarh government has stepped up security measures, particularly in the Naxalite-infested tribal areas.

Official sources said police and para-military forces deployed in tribal Bastar and Sarguja region, bordering Andhra Pradesh and Jharkand respectively, have been put on maximum alert.

A massive vigil is being maintained in Bastar where the CPI (Maoists) have intensified violence during the last one year, ever since the tribals launched 'Salwa Judum', a campaign against Naxalites.

Security has also been beefed up at the Mana airport in the state capital and allrailway stations.

In Jharkhand, extra care has been taken in terms of possible Maoist strikes to disrupt the Independence Day celebrations.

Official sources said security arrangements at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi has been strengthened.

In Madhya Pradesh, entry of visitors has been banned at Bhopal airport, only bonafide passengers were being allowed to enter the lounge.

Inspector General of Police (Security) Ashok Soni said Range IGs and Superintendents of Police were directed to gear up security ahead of the Indpendence Day. At Bhopal, Special Armed Force had been deployed at BHEL plant and High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, besides other key places.

The Delhi Police has drawn 'molecular and targetted' contingency plans to ensure that the national capital remains ''incident-free'' during Independence Day and Janmashtami. According to Special Commissioner (Security) Ajay Chaddha, commandos from the Delhi Police, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, National Security Guard and other personnel, to be deployed, have been sensitised on the 'new threat perceptions' and specially trained to handle terror contingencies.

''The air space in and around the Lal Qila would be a 'no-fly zone' from early morning till the function gets over on August 15.

Suitable air defence measures with the help of the Indian Air Force have been put in place to foil any designs to disrupt the I-Day functions through aerial routes,'' he said.

Delhi police has banned cell phones, cameras, bags, water bottles and transistors at the Red Fort during the 60th Independence Day celebrations.

''All those coming to attend the Independence Day celebrations are requested not to bring with them their cell phones, cameras, bags, water bottles or transistors as these items are not permitted at the venue,'' Mr Chaddha said.

He said PCR vans would be specially mobilised, Omni motorcycles strengthened for patrolling and strict vigil would be kept at sensitive places along with Quick Reaction Teams (QRT) and armed pickets deployed in crowded areas, Metro stations, temples and Inter-State Bus Terminuses.

The Special Commissioner also said intelligence inputs and information on 'possible terror attacks' have been considered thoroughly while planning security arrangements so that celebrations could pass off peacefully.

Mumbai, which had experienced seven serial bomb blasts on 7/11, is not taking any chances in the wake of foiled terrorist bid in London and the American Embassy warning of possible terror attacks in the country's commercial capital.

''Security at several prominent places has been intensified and the checking of the baggages is going on even as the major suburban railway stations and companies of State Reserve Police (SRP) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed at sensitive places'', state Home Minister R R Patil told UNI.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy and Government Railway Police (GRP) Commissioner Suresh Khopde said, ''Security has been beefed up at all religious places, government buildings, commercial establishments including multiplexes and malls.'' Security has also been intensified at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport along with the domestic terminal.

According to sources at Chhatrapati Shivaji terminus airport, the rickshaws and taxis are asked to hault at the parking stand itself and not to come close to airport. The private vehicles are also not allowed to come close to the airport and the passengers are taking their luggage in trollies.

Security has also been tightened in Northern states of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory of Chandigarh at important places in view of the Independence Day and Janmashtami.

Security has been strengthened at the vital installations, including Bhakhra Nangal dam in Punjab and Panipat refinery in Haryana, police sources said.

Constant vigil is being maintained in the holy cities of Amritsar and Kurukshetra so that no subversive attempt was made to disturb the communal harmony in the region.

Security has been tightened throughout West Bengal and vigil mounted along the international border with three countries. ''The state will remain under high alert till the Independence Day. We have also sounded alert in the border areas with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh,'' Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray told reporters.

He, however, said the state government did not have any information about any terrorist plot targeting Kolkata.

Following an advice from the Union Home Ministry, steps had been taken for adequate lighting of places like the Howrah bridge, Victoria Mermorial, second Hooghly bridge and Shahid Minar during nights, Mr Ray said.

In Asom, massive security arrangements have been made ahead of the I-Day celebrations even as the ULFA offensives, targeting mainly security forces, continue without respite.

Railway sources said platforms, trains and all passengers were being checked after bomb scares were reported in various trains over the past few days.

Besides, vigil was also being kept at all refineries, temples, gas pipelines, major bridges and airports. Police sources informed that security at all celebration venues had been heightened.

As in the past years, five major ultra organisations of the North-East, including the ULFA and the KLO, have called for a boycott of the Independence-Day celebrations as well as a bandh on that day.

The Manipur government has beefed up security in the entire state to avert any untowrad incident on Independence day. Officials said militant groups of the North-East had already called a general strike in the entire region on August 15 and there were possibilities of insurgency related activities to thwart the celebrations.

The main function would be held amid tight security inside the Ist Manipur Rifles complex at the state capital.

In Maharashtra, the police will carry out 'nakabandi' and surprise checks in hotels and lodges in Nagpur everyday till Tuesday. Security has been beefed up at major locations like the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Hedgewar Smruti Bhawan and places of worship.

In Karnataka, recent intelligence reports indicating terrorist organisations like LeT had made a foray into the state, has pushed the police into an overdrive in ensuring security in the urban areas, mainly in Bangalore.

Bangalore police Commissioner N Achyut Rao held a high level meeting with officials and which it was decided to deploy 850-strong police force to provide tight security in and around the sprawling General Manek Shaw Parade Grounds during the I-Day function. Apart from the state police and reserve police force, it was decided to deploy platoons of CRPF, CISF and BSF men.

In Kerala, security has been tightened in all the three international airports.

Kerala Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Jacob Punnoose said, ''We have taken all precautionary measures, particularly at the airports. We have also asked all the hostels in the state to keep a watch on all people boarding in the lodge, particularly foreigners''.

Following the high alert, several new security measures have been introduced at the Nedumbassery, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram International Airports to prevent any terror attack.

The new measures include deployment of plain-clothed ''terminal marshals'', who are CISF sharpshooters armed with sophisticated weapons. The ban on entry of visitors has been extended till August 20, the officials said.

Passengers will not be allowed to carry glass items or goods such as pickles in the hand baggage, airport officials said.

''In northern Kerala, security at Karippur airport was further beefed up to ward off any untoward incident,'' Inspector General of Police (North) M N Krishnamurthy said.

UNI