Centre issues terror alert, particularly for Mumbai, Goa
The Centre has issued a countrywide alert ahead of the New Year with intelligence inputs suggesting that the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba may be planning strikes, particularly in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Goa.
Intelligence inputs suggest that the Bombay Stock Exchange, Taj Mahal Hotel (Mumbai) and other locations reconnoitred by Pakistani-American LeT terrorist David Coleman Headley may be on the radar of the LeT. The inputs suggested that the terrorists may try to target one of the properties of the Taj Group in Mumbai, government sources said. Bengaluru and tourist paradise Goa are also high on the list of terrorist targets.
Headley had spoken about an LeT plot to target an annual conference of software engineers at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel during his interrogation by the National Investigation Agency. However, the LeT did not carry out this operation, but days later the 26/11 terror attack took place.
The Centre has asked all states to tighten security by deploying additional forces at all sensitive locations. Additional forces have already been deployed in Goa.
The latest modus operandi of the LeT is to carry out “single blasts” using new recruits where there is less chance of leaving a trail, an official said. Citing singular attempts to strike terror, like the Jama Masjid firing incident and the Varanasi blast, the official said the terrorists may be emboldened to strike again as they left no footprints in both incidents.
As per intelligence inputs, LeT teams have already entered Mumbai and Ahmedabad and may strike at any time. Security forces have already launched “house-to-house” searches in specific areas in Mumbai. Additional forces have been deployed at all sensitive and crowded places.
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