Government sounds alert following serial blasts in UP

Kolkata, Nov 23 (UNI) The West Bengal Government sounded an alert throughout the state today following the serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh.

" A general alert has been sounded in the state, " Home Secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray told reporters.

The decision was taken after at least nine people were killed and 35 injured in the blasts in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi in the terrorist strike.

According to official sources, the Bordeer Security Force (BSF) had been asked to mount vigil in the India-Bangladesh border and police directed to be more alert against any attempt to disturb peace or create terror.

Besides strengthening security for the vital installations, including Government buildings, railway stations, bridges and power plants, surveillance would be maintained in the thickly populated areas, market places and shopping complex.

Taking the steps became necessary also in the background of the sudden violence that erupted in the city on Wednesday over the demand for deportation of Bangladesh writer Tasleema Nasreen, the sources said.

Home Secretary P R Ray said the Government was awaiting an intelligence report on whether the Pakistan-backed ISI and the SIMI, a banned fundamentalist organisation, had any role in the violence.

UNI