Security beefed up in Uttarakhand following threat letter

Dehra Dun, Jul 29 (UNI) The Uttarakhand police has beefed up security in the state following a letter, allegedly written by the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant outfit, threatening to blow up railway stations and other vital installations across the state and UP and target prominent leaders.

The typed letter stated that the outfit would target Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and other political leaders on Independence Day and Janmashtmi.

It also warned of a series of blasts in Haridwar, Roorkee and Dehradun and in Varanasi, Kanpur, Meerut, Muradabad and Rai Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.

The letter was addressed to Laksar station master Ramdar Kanujiya who reported it to the police yesterday.

Talking to UNI today, State Police DGP Subash Joshi said local and intelligence agencies were verifying the contents of the letter and a copy was also sent to the authories in UP.

He said such letters had been received earlier also but keeping in mind the recent blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, the police was taking the matter seriously.

''Such letters have been received by dignitaries often in the past with the same intention to blow up railway stations in Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Varanasi. However, keeping in mind the recent blasts in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, we are treating the matter seriously,'' Mr Joshi said.

He informed that a heavy security blanket had been thrown over the state and with additional deployment of police in pilgrimage areas like Haridwar, there was ''no reason to panic''.

''The Kanwar Mela is in full swing as is evident with the record number of pilgrims visiting Hardwar everyday. The police is on the alert and there is no reason to panic,'' he said.

The Uttarakhand police has at its disposal five bomb disposal squads and has arranged two more from the SSB. Also, a special investigating team with the STF in charge has been set up to monitor security, Mr Joshi said.

The ITBP and the SSB have been asked to keep a vigil along the long border of the state, Mr Joshi added.

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