The Karnataka government on Thursday sounded a red alert across the state, directing police, civil defence and fire forces to be ready to meet any situation in the backdrop of the ghastly terror attacks in Mumbai.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa summoned top police officials for a meeting, reviewed the prevailing law and order situation and directed them to take steps to maintain vigil at all sensitive locations.
"A high alert has been sounded all over the state in view of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai," Yeddyurappa told the press after chairing the high-level security meeting along with the Home Minister V S Acharya.
"We have instructed the district administrations to take all precautionary measures and keep a vigil on sensitive places," he said.
The meeting also reviewed the preparedness of the police, civil defence and fire force to tackle emergencies, Yeddyurappa said.
He condemned the incidents in Mumbai as "cowardly and inhumane violent attacks by terrorists on innocent people".
The repeated terror attacks call for a review of the laws and policies of the Centre concerning terrorism and there is a need to bring a special Central legislation on the lines of POTA, he said.
The Centre and border-states together will have to take effective measures to stop infiltration of terrorists from across the border, including the coastal line, the BJP leader said.
Orissa
High alert has been sounded in Orissa today and security tightened at pilgrim and tourist
centres, in the wake of the terrorist attack in Mumbai, police said.
Strict vigil was kept in and around vital installations like airports, railway stations, bus stands, hotels, guest houses, government offices, industrial units and pilgrim centres in the state, they said.
Arrangements were made for intensive armed patrolling at several places and checking of vehicles entering the state through different entry points, they said. Bomb disposal squads and other wings were also kept in a state of readiness.
Additional forces were also deployed in vulnerable areas, a senior police officer said.
In the state capital, police personnel were posted in strength near government structures, including the state secretariat, assembly building, railway station and airport, he said.
Police force in the holy town of Puri was also in a state of high alert and arrival of visitors and vehicles closely monitored, Puri district Superintendent of Police Asit Panigrahi said.
Goa and Pune
Goa, the state with highest foreign tourist arrivals in the country, has stepped up security in the coastal belt and hotels. Security has also been beefed up in Pune.
Pune's Joint Commissioner of Police Rajendra Sonavne appealed to the citizens to ignore rumours and go about their daily chores without reservations. But the Mumbai situation nevertheless had a certain impact on the normal life of this satellite city which has emerged as one of the centres of suspected terrorist activity in various forms.
Police had stepped up patrolling throughout the city covering important junctions as well as five-star hotels.
Organisers of International Film Festival of India, being held Panaji and participated by a large number of foreign delegates, have also been alerted by the police.
"I have asked the police to assess the situation. Goa has been put on high alert," chief secretary J P Singh told PTI on Thursday morning.
Since some foreigners are among those killed in the attacks, Goa police are keeping extra vigil on beaches like Baga and Calangute, which are frequented by overseas tourists.
The instructions were issued on Wednesday night itself to ensure that there is alert on the beach belt and also in the prominent hotels, Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Atmaram Deshpande said.
According to the Goa tourism department, around 20,000 foreigners are currently holidaying in the state.
The state attracts around 300,000 foreign tourists annually, nearly 50 per cent from Britain.
Police have sought assistance from Indian Coast Guard to patrol the 105-km-long coastline passing through the state.
Security blanket has been thrown around the IFFI venues, Deshpande said. The 10-day festival entered its fifth day today.
The government had deployed two companies of paramilitary forces to guard the IFFI venues besides pressing in service the state police force.
