High alert in UP following Gorakhpur blasts

A state of high alert has been sounded across Uttar Pradesh in wake of serial bomb blasts in Gorakhpur and recovery of explosives in Faizabad.

Security has been beefed up at all sensitive places and security personnel have been deployed in strength to thwart designs to create problems in the state, sources said.

Tight security arrangements had been put in place at Ram Janmabhoomi complex at Ayodhya, Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Srikrshna Janmbhoomi in Mathura, they said.

A strict vigil was being maintained along the Indo-Nepal border districts and extensive checking of vehicles was being conducted, they said.

Meanwhile, a Special Task Force team of the UP police had reached Gorakhpur to investigate into Tuesday's serial blasts in Golghar area.

Senior Superintendent of Police R K Rai said timer devices could have been used to detonate three low-intensity bombs on Tuesday evening in a crowded shopping area of Gorakhpur. Five people were injured in the blasts.

All exit routes of Gorakhpur had been sealed and security in and around the famous Gorakh Nath temple had been beefed up, police said.

The police was also checking whether the blasts have any link with the recoverey of 10 kg of explosives and 20 litres of amonium nitrite from a second class waiting room in Faizabad railway station, they said.

The explosives, the nature of which are yet to be ascertained, were recovered at around 2 am from the second class waiting room on platform No. 1 of the station during a routine search by railway police personnel.

The explosives and the liquid were found kept in a bag in the corner of the waiting hall, sources said.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said the government had taken the serial blasts at Gorakhpur seriously and would conduct a thorough investigation into it.

Home department sources in Lucknow said directives had been sent to the district magistrates and police chiefs to maintain a state of high alert.