By IANS,
New Delhi: Indian intelligence agencies have asked state authorities to tighten security around iconic places nationwide, warning of a possible terror attack, sources said Wednesday.
The alert comes in the wake of American national David Coleman Headley’s arrest in Chicago on charges of plotting an attack in India at the behest of terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the sources said.
“The Intelligence Bureau has received some inputs from state governments that terrorists were trying to infiltrate through the Indian west coast and target vital installations in the country,” a home ministry official told IANS.
The official said the state governments have been asked to beef up security around airports, railway stations and other important places in the run-up to the anniversary of the Nov 26, 2008, terror attacks on Mumbai.
Home ministry sources said Headley, during his stay in India between 2006 and 2009, may have done a reccee of some vital installations in half a dozen cities to carry out attacks.
States like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been asked to step up their vigil after intelligence officials found that Headley had visited Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi and even done a reccee of National Defence Academy (NDA) in Pune and vital installations in other cities.
Headley is alleged to have been recruiting cadres for the Pakistan-based terror group Lashker-e-Taiba.
The Coast Guard and police have been told to be on high alert in Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Ahmedabad.