By IANS,
Bangalore: Karnataka has intensified vigil, particularly along its 360 km west coast, and is taking steps to sanitise areas frequented by foreign tourists, especially from the US and Europe, following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, state Home Minister R. Ashoka said Wednesday.
The stepped up vigil follows a directive from the central home ministry, which has asked all states to be on heightened alert for a year in the wake of bin Laden’s killing, Ashoka told reporters here.
He said high vigil would also be maintained around areas housing IT companies.
Instructions have been given to hotels, resorts, lodges, especially in coastal areas, to keep a watch on the people checking in for stay, the minister said.
As part of the stepped vigil along the coast, police stations would be set up at every 30 km within this year and six of them would come up soon, Ashoka said.
A 300-member strong commando force has been formed in the state for rapid deployment during emergencies.
The state would also give 400 acres of land in Belgaum in north Karnataka, about 500 km from Bangalore, for the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to set up a training centre.
A meeting of senior police officers was held in Bangalore Tuesday to review the situation in the state and steps needed for maintaining high vigil, he said.