Shivratri peaceful under terror threat
ON GUARD Unprecedented security across country after inputs that 10 extremists entered Gujarat from Pakistan
NEW DELHI: Thousands of people offered prayers in temples across India under tight security to mark Mahashivratri on Monday as the Centre put out a multi-city alert for possible strikes by militants believed to have sneaked into the country.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh met top officials of the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing (R& AW ), in the wake of an input by Islamabad about possible infiltration into Gujarat by 10 extremists from Pakistan.
But over 48 hours after the input, the security establishment was yet to get any technical or human intelligence suggesting the presence of a suicide squad but continued to trawl through voice and data traffic for leads. “We will not lower our guard despite no reports of sightings of any suspicious person or group of persons. We have not got any other evidence that suggests presence of such a group on Indian soil but leaving nothing to chance, the whole country is on high alert, including Gujarat,” said a senior security official.
Sources said the terror threat and security arrangements were discussed by Singh in the presence of national security adviser Ajit Doval, all intelligence chiefs and home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.
“There is a specific Shivratri related terror threat in Jammu and Kashmir. The state is in position of maximum alert along with Gujarat,” said the official.
Sources said a special watch was being kept on the borders of Gujarat. Neighbouring states, including Rajasthan and Maharastra, were asked to remain vigilant. On Sunday, the Centre had sent 160 National Security Guard commandos to Gujarat, which continued to remain under unprecedented security cover.
In Somnath, devotees passed through eight layers of secu- rity and policemen on horseback patrolled the beach near the temple.
“Apart from Somnath, security has also been beefed up at two other Shiva temples at Bhavnath and Nageshwar,” said Gujarat director general of police PC Thakur.
Cities such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Vijaywada, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad and Panaji were alerted about possible attacks besides Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Bengaluru, officials said.
In Delhi, police bolstered presence around temples, popular markets, metro and railway stations.