A fortnight after the serial blasts in Pune, the central Intelligence Bureau (IB) has sounded high alert to Mysore police of a potential terror threat. The alert was reportedly issued on Saturday. The IB has given a specific input about activities and movements of suspicious terror elements, who are planning to target crowded Mysore railway station ahead of Independence Day on August 15. The high alert has been sounded specifically for Mysore and generally for entire Karnataka and would remain in place till Wednesday.
Confirming the development, Mr P.K. Mohandas, Security Commissioner (Mysore railway division), told this newspaper that it was a serious alert, but “there was no need to panic” as. three agencies — Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP) and the State police have taken necessary precautionary measures to thwart any terror attack. “We are fully prepared and surveillance has been beefed-up. All the entry and exit points of the railway station have been fortified with RPF, door frame detectors, hand-held metal detectors. Sniffer dogs have been deployed and round-the-clock monitoring is done with the help of 18 high-resolution CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations,” Mr Mohandas said.
Sources said IB intercepted a call between two terror groups, according to which 15-20 terror suspects have allegedly landed in Mysore by train to carry out blasts on the eve of Independence Day. The railway tracks between Mysore and Bengaluru are being secured. Security has been enhanced at all the important tourist destinations and crowded areas.