Multi-city terror alert issued, Rajnath reviews situation

Following intelligence of suspect Lashkar-e-Tayiba infiltration through the Gujarat-Pakistan border, a multi-city terror alert has been issued to ensure no untoward incident happens and terror attacks are averted.

Tier two cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Vijaywada, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Panji have also been alerted about possible attacks.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday reviewed the internal security situation in the country in the wake of inputs that 10 suspected LeT and JeM terrorists have entered India from Pakistan through Gujarat.

At a high-level meeting, attended by top security officials including Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma, Singh took stock of the situation and the steps taken to prevent any possible terror attacks.

The Home minister was briefed that four national Security Guard teams have taken position in different locations in Gujarat and would rush to any place if there is any emergency, official sources said.

Singh also reviewed the steps taken to beef up security in strategic locations, religious sites and industrial spots in Gujarat and metro cities apprehending threats, they said.

However, so far there is no clue about the suspected terrorists, who were believed to have entered Gujarat, which could be their prime target. An alert has already been sounded in Gujarat and other major metropolitan centres by central security agencies following reports that the 10 terrorists have entered the western state to carry out attacks against high-value targets.

A similar alert has also been sent to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chandigarh. In view of the January 2 terror attack in Pathankot airbase, security agencies were not taking any chances and all possible steps are being taken to prevent any possible terror attacks, sources said. 

Pakistan's National Security Advisor Naseer Khan Janjua informed his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval about a group of fidayeen from the LeT and Jaish-e Muhammed cadres on a mission to a major terror strike in the state.

Image: A security personnel stands guard near the building of the Home ministry in New Delhi. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters