In city after terror alert in Gujarat and Delhi
Suspected LET and JEM militants believed to have entered India through Gujarat
MUMBAI: A general alert has been sounded in the city after the Delhi police received inputs about a potential terror strike in Delhi by 10 suspected Lashkare-taiba (LET) and Jaish-emohammad (JEM) militants, who are learnt to have entered India through Gujarat. The western state, too, was put on high alert.
Security has been stepped up at vital installations in the city that include religious places, malls, multiplexes and other tourist attractions. Meetings are being conducted with people and managements where large number of footfalls is reported.
Officials added that all the senior inspectors of 93 police stations have been asked to conduct a security audit of their areas and take necessary steps in co-ordination with senior officers. The Government Railway Police (GRP) has also been asked to stay vigil to ensure that security is tightened at the suburban railway stations in the city and also the major terminus.
Mumbai has substantial presence of foreign tourists citing the holiday season. Hence more focus is being put on their security, too, with security measures being stepped up in south Mumbai and other tourist locations as well.
In the wake of the Gujarat inputs, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired an internal security coordination meeting with senior police officers of the Maharashtra police, including those from Mumbai police and the Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS), Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing. Surprise nakabandis on the streets in the city and gathering of intelligence by the police’s anti-terror cells (ATCS) is also underway.
Combat vehicles will be posted at strategic locations in Mumbai. The coastal security of the city has been beefed up with high-speed patrol boats been put on continuous patrolling of the coasts.
“While the fishermen fish, we ensure there is nothing fishy,” tweeted the official Twitter handle of the Mumbai police on Sunday.
The police have also appealed to the citizens to avoid rumour and circulate false messages.
Mumbai has seen a lot of terror activity over the years and was targeted several times since the 1993 serial explosions.
In 2006, the trains were targeted and seven blasts took place in which 188 people were killed and over 800 were injured.
While in 2008, however, 10 Pakistani terrorists, who were trained by the Lashkar-e-taiba (LET) attacked the city on 26/11. About 166 people were killed and over 300 were injured in the fidayeen attack.