Kasab: Centre, Maha govt alert on likely retaliation

New Delhi, Nov 23: The Centre and Maharashtra government share tightened security to counter likely retaliatory strikes by Lashkar-e-Taiba (

) in the wake of the execution of 26/11 convict

at the Yerwada Jail in Pune on Wednesday. Various other states have also been advised to beef up security.

Vigilance has particularly been stepped up in Maharashtra for Kasab was held in captivity in Mumbai and hanged in Pune. Besides, these two cities have also been targetted by terrorists quite a few times after 26/11. While Mumbai has been targetted once, Pune was attacked twice.

The Indian government is alert for it believes the well-entrenched terror outfit, which also reportedly hailed Kasab as a 'hero', could make a retaliation to prove that it is not cowed by India's move to hang Kasab.

However, the LeT may not opt for an immediate retaliation for it could prove counter-productive and strengthen India's case that the outfit had planned and carried out the 26/11 attack and constituted the chief threat in the south Asian region. A hasty strike could also negate LeT chief Hafiz Saeed's recent interview given to a US channel where he denied any role in the Mumbai attack and even claimed that he was against such attack.

Factors like the $10 million bounty placed on his head by the US or the pressure exerted by the Pakistani military for not reviving the 26/11 issue afresh could also compel the LeT to take up a go-slow approach for the time being.

Meanwhile, the Indian Home Ministry was patting its back for carrying out Kasab's execution with secrecy. The Centre was worried that the news had been leaked, several quarters would have created an issue and there could arise legal complications.

OneIndia News