Security arrangements in Tamil Nadu have been tightened, including deployment of armed police personnel, following an intelligence alert that six LeT terrorists have infiltrated into the State from Sri Lanka. Of the six, who were said to have infiltrated into the textile city of Coimbatore under the guise of Hindus, five were from Sri Lanka and one from Pakistan.
A high alert have been sounded in Coimbatore, where NIA officials arrested terror suspects for raising funds and for plotting terror attacks last month. The Central Intelligence late on Thursday night alerted the state that six terrorists have infiltrated into the state and advised the state to take all steps and tighten security.
In view of the alert, DGP J K Tripathy issued a circular asking all the city police commissioners and district SPs to strengthen security.The alert said that the terrorists were planning to disrupt the Vinayaka Chathurthi celebrations beginning on September two. Already security has been heightened in the city in view of the I-day celebrations and also due to the abrogation of Article 370 that provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Confirming the alert, Chennai City Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan said there has been alert about infiltration of terrorists.
Police are taking all steps to prevent any untoward incidents and security has been tightened in all vital installations, including airport, railway stations, shopping malls, temples and places of worship and in places where public would congregate in large
numbers. He said vehicle checks were intensified and all lodges were being searched to find out any anti-social elements were staying. All the vehicles entering and leaving the city were being searched. Already heightened security arrangements were put in place in Coimbatore in the wake of arrest of terror suspects by the NIA last month.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Coimbatore, City Police Commissioner Sumit Saran said ‘we have got the alert that six terrorists have come to the state and moving to Coimbatore’. ‘In view of this, extensive bandobust arrangements are made in all shopping malls, temples and all important installations. A total of 2,000 police personnel, including armed police, were deployed on security duty in the city and ten Quick Response Teams (QRTs) were in a state of readiness at strategic locations to handle any emergency.
He said it was a general alert and there was no need for people to panic as all security arrangements were put in place across the city, including vehickle checks and setting up of check posts. He also refuted TV reports and said photos of suspects were not released so far. (UNI)
