South Indian temples high on terror radar, says Intelligence Bureau

Bengaluru, April 27: Temples in South India have come under immense threat and Intelligence Bureau officials have directed the state police to step up security. The finding of the pipe bombs in the Padmanabha Swamy temple in Kerala and the threat to the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada had given security officials much to worry about.

There has been increasing activity in South India and threats have emerged out of various groups including the Students Islamic Movement of India and also the naxalites. Very recently the NIA and the Chennai police busted a major plot hatched by the ISI from Sri Lanka to stage a 26/11 type attack in Tamil Nadu.

Why are temples under the radar?

Targeting religious places is like going back to the basics. Any attack on a religious place is like issuing a statement and also causing a communal divide. However religious places are more often targeted by terrorist groups rather than the naxals.

Several terrorist groups operating out of South India are in a desperate mood. They organizational structure is in disarray and they are looking to make a come back. For a come back they would need to carry out a big attack and hence they could try and target temples, Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia.

The threat to the Padmanabha Swamy temple

When the pond at the temple was being cleaned, five pipe bombs were discovered. The pipe bombs were packed in a gunny sack and placed in the pond.

A high level inquiry has been ordered into the incident that took place in a temple that has close circuit television cameras at very nook and corner. Police officials from Kerala say it is too premature to comment on what the reason could be. However we are looking into the incident.

Sources also point out that this could be an attempt to create a major scare. There is a lot of wealth in the temple which has been under the radar of several persons. It could be connected to this angle too.

However there is every possibility of a group strike to carry out a strike in this very important temple to make a statement an officer also informed.

Threat to Kanaka Durga temple

The threat to the Kanaka Durga temple at Vijayawada is also under investigation. The officials from Andhra Pradesh were informed that some youth claiming to be part of the SIMI had threatened to blow up the temple.

The police have not taken this threat lying down. In fact all other temples in the state have been directed to step up security.

There is a concern in many temples that vehicles are not checked on entry. This should be introduced at any cost the police have also advised the temple management.

Further the police say that the security at every temple should be stepped up. Terrorists could look to target smaller temples as well and none can take the threat lying down, the officer also said.

OneIndia News