Eight places in Meghalaya susceptible to terror attacks

Shillong, Oct 31 (UNI) Security agencies today identified eight places as being susceptible to terror attacks in the aftermath of yesterday's serial blasts in Assam.

Meghalaya police, senior central para-military forces and central intelligence officials went into a huddle and reviewed the overall security scenario in the state.

According to intelligence sources, security agencies have identified four places each in Shillong and Garo Hills as most vulnerable to terrorist attacks.

In Shillong three busiest markets - Police Bazaar, Iewduh and Laitumkhrah Bazaar - and Laban locality, while Resubelpara, Tikkrikilla, Tura and Bajengdoba in Garo Hills, have been identified as soft targets for terrorists.

''We have deployed security personnel in vulnerable areas to thwart any untoward incident,'' Inspector General of Police B L Buam told UNI here.

Mr Buam, however, appealed to the public not to panic but remain alert to prevent such terror attacks.

''Preventive steps have been taken up and security men are all in the field keeping a constant vigil in those vulnerable areas,'' he added.

Meanwhile, Meghalaya Additional Chief Secretary W M S Pariat said review security meetings would be held as and when necessitated.

''Meghalaya is as 'safe' or vulnerable as Assam, Delhi or Hyderabad. We are taking the security aspects of the state very seriously and our security agencies are doing their job to prevent such attack in Meghalaya,'' he assured.

Mr Pariat said the state also has response teams like bomb squads ready but to defuse a sophisticated bomb it has to enlist the help of the Army.

Meanwhile, police conducted raids in hotels in Shillong, even as police barricades have been set up in various transit points in the state to prevent sneaking of perpetrators of yesterday's serial blasts in Assam inside the state.

Vehicles passing along National Highways 40 and 44 that connects Assam and Meghalaya are being thoroughly checked.

UNI RRK DPM RL AS1853