The city was put on alert on Sunday following inputs given by the state anti-terrorism squad of possible terror attacks in Mumbai. Though the alert was not specific, it mentioned that terror outfits might attack religious and crowded places in the city on Sunday. Following the alert, the top brass of police issued citywide wireless orders in the department, canceling leaves and weekly-offs of all policemen on Sunday, while nakabandi, patrolling and bandobast in full strength were also ordered.
According to sources, the state ATS had alerted the city police a few days ago, stating that terrorist organisations might carry out attacks at religious and crowded places. The alert had been communicated to all the police stations across the city on Saturday evening through wireless. From Saturday night onward, nakabandi, checks and police drills were initiated at various places in the city. The state police had also alerted other major cities of the state.
Joint commissioner of police (law and order) Sadanand Date confirmed that the security had been beefed up in the city following terror related inputs from the ATS. He also confirmed that special bandobast and arrangements were made in the communally sensitive areas of the city. Mr Date, however, said, “We have to remain alert 24x7 throughout the 365 days of the year.”
Speaking about the month of July and its history with bomb blast incidents, an officer said, “This trend of history was also discussed in the recently held crime conference of the Mumbai police, headed by the commissioner of police who asked all policemen to be extra vigilant throughout this month.”
Security agencies had another reason to believe that terror outfits might strike on July 21. Earlier in the month of April this year, an anonymous letter received by the American consulate in Kolkata stated that terrorist elements would carry out blasts in market areas, malls, religious places and railway stations on July 21 to avenge the death of terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru. The letter specifically mentioned that Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru would be targeted.
Co-incidentally, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) also reportedly alerted seven other states informing about the plans of several militant groups that were likely to target seven airports of the country, including Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.