By IANS
Chennai : Even as security in Chennai has been beefed up following a high alert, the two main political parties began their own war of words on terror. In response to opposition AIADMK chief J. Jayalalitha’s accusation that the government was unconcerned despite the intelligence advisory, Chief Minister K. Karuanidhi retorted Tuesday that her statements were aimed to “terrify the people”.
Jayalalitha has accused Karunanidhi and the state police of “not taking necessary steps to prevent acts of terror in Tamil Nadu, despite an advisory from the Intelligence Bureau (IB)”.
In a statement, she said: “The chief minister does not seem to be concerned at all despite the advisory sent by the IB that there is a possibility of terror attacks in Tamil Nadu, especially in Chennai.”
The former chief minister alleged that a sense of insecurity prevailed among the people.
Angered by her charge, Karunanidhi said: “Jayalalitha was making statements to terrify the people” and that “her comments attracted punishment under criminal laws”.
“She is issuing statements on all subjects without ascertaining facts and that is because of the anger over her being out of power,” he added.
Despite the political battle raging over the terror alert, security agencies in the city went about their business, with airport authorities arresting a Kuala Lumpur-bound passenger with books published by the LTTE.
Police said 29-year-old Suresh, carrying the LTTE books, was from Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district of Tamil Nadu.
Following the terror blasts in Hyderabad on Aug 25, the Tamil Nadu government was alerted by central intelligence agencies about a possible terror strike in Chennai, prompting the authorities to beef up security in markets and crowded places.