UP on high alert after LeT letter warns of attacks

LUCKNOW: Police in Uttar Pradesh have increased security at major railway stations and two religious places after a letter purportedly written by a Pakistani terrorist warned of attacks on Wednesday and later this week.

The letter to the divisional railway manager of North Railways in Delhi on June 1 was sent by Maulana Ambu Sheikh, the selfstyled area commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the Pakistani terrorist group blamed for carrying out the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.

A police alert said Lashkar may target railways stations in Saharanpur, Hapur, and other railway stations on June 6. Religious places like the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi and Krishna Janmabhoomi in Mathura could be targeted between June 8 and 10, the police warned.

District police chiefs have been alerted about the threat, said Anand Kumar, additional DGP, law and order. He said the letter seems to be a prank but could not be taken lightly.

The ADG said the state intelligence agencies and other specialised agencies such as the UP AntiTerror Squad (ATS) had been asked to look into the matter and trace the source of the letter. He said the agencies concerned were also taking help of central agencies in the matter.

Kumar also said intelligence agencies have no knowledge about any Ambu Shaikh LeT “commander”.

Meanwhile, security was tightened at public places in Agra and Mathura after instructions issued by additional director general, Agra Zone.

ADG ANAND KUMAR SAID STATE INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND UP ANTITERROR SQUAD (ATS) HAD BEEN ASKED TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER AND TRACE THE SOURCE OF THE LETTER