Terror threat: City under security blanket for I-Day

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The Bengaluru railway station was put on high alert on Tuesday following a tip-off from the Intelligence Bureau regarding bomb threats on the eve of Independence Day. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) had been alerted about the threats a couple of days back. While the threat was specifically for Mysore, Bengaluru too was put on high alert.

“An intelligence officer has been deployed specifically to coordinate and monitor with the city police and other departments. Besides this, all Railway employees who work at the station, have been asked to stay inside the station,” said Mr S. Louis Anthem, Divisional Security Commissioner (Bengaluru Division), RPF.

Besides frisking of passengers and deployment of sniffer dogs, garbage disposal teams have been specifically asked to remove garbage on an hourly basis. “There is nothing to panic; these are security arrangements. But we have to make all preparations. There will be plain-clothed policemen and all trains will have escorts and tracks are being checked,” added Mr Anthem. Parking near the station area will also not be allowed, he said.

LeT men did recce of airports?
The Intelligence Bureau on Tuesday sounded an alert for all airports, including the Bengaluru International Airport, of a possible hijack bid by the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Tayyaba. “A group of LeT men has reportedly reconnoitered some key airports in the country and there could be an attempt to hijack aircraft,” the IB stated. The alert, though a routine exercise for Independence Day, is also based on alleged information given by jailed 26/11 handler Abu Jundal that the LeT is planning aerial attacks on India and has trained 150 para-gliders. The CISF has escalated security inside BIA and city police have thrown a security net outside the airport.