Major terror alert issued in TN cities Intel suggests 6 LeT men have sneaked in through sea from Lanka & heading for Coimbatore

All major towns and cities in Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai and Coimbatore, have been brought under heavy security drills following a pointed intelligence alert late Thursday night that a group of six terrorists belonging to LeT, including a Pakistani, has sneaked in through the sea from Sri Lanka and is heading for Coimbatore.

The intel alert said the terrorists could attempt to mingle with common people to avoid detection.

The terror group includes 5 Lankans and it is likely to team up with some men already holed up in Coimbatore for pre-planned hits

“The men have disguised themselves as Hindus with tilak or vibudhi smeared on forehead”, said the alert. It is also likely that the group could use public transport, such as buses and trains, to reach their destinations.

The terrorist group includes five Sri Lankan Tamil Muslims and it’s likely to team up with some men already holed up in Coimbatore for preplanned hits targeting crowded places such as shopping malls, prominent temples, railway stations, bus terminals and educational institutions, an informed source said.

Multiple police and security agencies have been placed under a state of high alert, not just in Tamil Nadu but also in the bordering areas of neighbouring states. Indian Coast Guard vessels have stepped up patrolling in the sea off Tamil Nadu and are in close coordination with the state coastal security police. The electronic monitoring sections in the police and other agencies have upped antennas for picking up suspect signals and conversations.

“There’s nothing to panic but we must be alert — the police as well as the people. We have taken adequate steps on this intel alert, including stepping up patrolling of the coastal areas because the sea is the route a terrorist coming in from Sri Lankan side will take”, TN director general of police L.K. Tripathy told this newspaper.

“We are on high alert and taking all necessary steps to ensure that the people are safe and secure. The police has been deployed in adequate numbers to screen people at large places of public congregation, such as bus terminus, train station, shopping mall and movie hall. Our men and women in plainclothes are also out on watch,” said another senior officer.

Senior minister D. Jayakumar said that people need not panic, but should remain alert.