Security tightened amid terror threat
Updated on
Monday, December 22, 2008, 00:00
IST
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi, Dec 22: In the wake of the terror threat issued by foreign intelligence agencies, security forces across the country have been put on alert. Foreign intelligence inputs have suggested that five sensitive locations across the country are on the hit list of the terrorists.
The intelligence agencies have listed five possible attack scenarios – terror attacks on Goa, Kalpakkam nuclear power plant and the country’s biggest Navy fleet carrier INS Viraat, helicopter based suicide attacks any where in India, and attacks on places between Mumbai and Chennai from the sea.
The US and European intelligence have provided the inputs, which clearly indicate that Goa is on the radar of the terrorists. Following the threats, the state government has banned beach parties this Christmas and New Year. The government had received recommendation that the beach parties should not be allowed between December 23 and January 5 due to safety concerns and to avoid crowding on the beaches.
The atomic plant power at Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu is also on the hit list. Few days back, a 10-km radius around the Kalpakkam nuclear installation was declared a no-fly zone. No-fly directions were issued based on the threat perception assessed by aviation security and intelligence agencies, particularly in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The reason behind the move is the fear that terrorists could use a hijacked aircraft as missile to strike on the sensitive location.
The security agencies also fear that a fidayeen attack using hijacked helicopters to crash into a sensitive installation like an atomic power station or a refinery.
INS Viraat, India’s only aircraft carrier and the country’s biggest warship, is also under the scanner. The Navy has tightened security for the warship, which is presently under repair at the shipyard in Kochi.
Based on intelligence inputs the government is also worried that terrorists could use similar tactics that they had used during the Mumbai strikes and could launch attack through the western and southern coasts.