Alert along sea coast as LeT plans to target installations

New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba
is planning to carry out attacks on vital installations along
the Indian sea coast prompting the Centre to issue an alert to
western states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.

Central security agencies received an intelligence
tip-off suggesting that Lashker's sea wing was planning to
carry out a major suicide attack on iconic and prominent
installations located along the Indian sea coast, official
sources said.

The sources said an alert was issued to the three
states asking them that the recent intelligence inputs
indicate that certain Pakistan-based Jehadi groups especially
LeT were making concerted attempts to target iconic and
prominent installations located along the Indian coast.

The alert from the Centre to the states also claimed
that some of the Lashker commanders had moved out of Pakistan
and had established contacts with their people asking them to
look for safe houses along the Kutch region in Gujarat.

The Centre also asked the states not only to increase
patrolling in coastal areas but also in high seas besides
sensitizing the fisherman community in all the states.

Gujarat Director General of Police S S Khanwawala said
the police had already started the security survey of all
industrial unit.

"Our range officers have already held the meeting with
all the industrial units in their respective areas and
necessary action is being taken," he said.

Centre also asked these states to ensure strict
adherence to the tighten maritime security norms under which
government has declared 500 metres within important
installations located along the 7,500 kms coastline as
"no-fishing zone".

The Gujarat Government has also been asked to notify
two of the dams located in the state as important
installations as soon as possible.

Issues like introducing fishing vessels identification
system, identity cards to fishermen, installation of coastal
radars, setting up of joint control room and procurement of
speed boats and aircraft were discussed in the meeting.

The Home Ministry provides assistance to nine coastal
states and four union territories under the Coastal Security
Scheme launched in 2005. The assistance is given for setting
up of 73 coastal police stations, 97 check posts, 58 out posts
and 30 barracks. As many as 55 coastal police stations are
already operational.

In the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, the
Centre decided to set up a Coastal Command to guard the
country's 7,500 km coastline dotted with 12 major and 180
minor ports.

The government also had cleared Rs 6,000-crore worth
of acquisition including fast attack crafts, off shore patrol
vessels, coastal surveillance radars and helicopters for the
Navy and Coast Guard.

The Home Ministry has also informed the states to
create technical manpower so that interceptor boat operators
could be given proper training. PTI