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Places of worship put on alert nationwide

The Uttar Pradesh administration had sounded an alert in all cities and towns where important religious shrines were located.

"Security has specially been tightened in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura, which are known to be on the hit-list of terrorist organisations," the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), D P Sinha, told rediff.com

Sinha said, "We have directed all district police chiefs to intensify patrolling in all communally sensitive areas to prevent any backlash or reaction to the terrorist attack at Akshardham in Gandhinagar on Tuesday."

Directions were issued to keep a close watch on those with a shady track record. "Wherever need be, the administration will not hesitate to pack off suspected provocateurs behind bars," he added.

The Andhra Pradesh police and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam security wing were keeping a strict vigil on the Lord Venkateswara temple at Tirupati.

TTD executive officer P Krishnaiah said foolproof security measures were in place. "Though there is no specific threat to us right now, we are fully geared up to handle any eventuality," he said.

The inspector general of police of the Rayalaseema region visited the temple complex on Tuesday night to inspect the security arrangements.

Metal detectors and baggage scanners were installed in various places. The temple complex had a bomb disposal squad as well.

In Kolkata, security was tightened around Kalighat and Dakshineshwar temples.

Police officials said intelligence reports had indicated a threat to the two temples.

The Bihar government had also taken all measure to ensure that no untoward incident happened.

Director General of Police R R Prasad told rediff.com that a strict vigil was being maintained at the Pitra Paksha fair.

"We have asked the concerned police to be alert and to be watchful in view of Gujarat incident," he said.

Nearly a million pilgrims would participate in the fair to offer pinddan for salvation of souls.

Security was also tightened at the famous Mahabodhi temple at Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment around 2,500 years ago.

In Karnataka, Director General of Police V V Bhaskar asked superintendents of police and range inspector generals to supervise security arrangements at places of worship in vulnerable areas.

Soon after the attack in Gandhinagar, Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with top police officials and issued strict instructions to maintain law and order "at any cost", official sources said, adding that the City Armed Reserve, District Armed Reserve and Karnataka State Reserve Police had been deployed.

The home minister had appealed to people not to lend credence to rumours.

With inputs from Sharat Pradhan in Lucknow, Amin Babu Ahmed in Kolkata, Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad, Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna and PTI

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