State put on high alert after blasts in Hyderabad

Bangalore, Feb 22 (DHNS): In the wake of the serial bomb blasts in Hyderabad on Thursday, the State police are on high alert to avert similar incidents in Bangalore and other parts of Karnataka.

“The security arrangements across the State have been beefed up, especially in Bangalore as a precautionary measure, although we have only received a general alert and no information about specific threats from intelligence agencies. The coastal belt has been asked to remain on guard to avert any attack,” Bipin Gopalakrishna, Additional Director General of Police and Chief of the State Internal Security Intelligence, said.

“There will be police presence in all important areas such as malls, airports, bus terminals and religious places. The Railway Protection Force has been advised to increase vigil in its jurisdiction. We also request the public to report to the police about any suspicious item or person in their area by dialing 100. I assure that apart from basic verification of information, we will not cause inconvenience to the callers by requesting them to be witness or testify on unusual activity,” he said.

Following the series of blasts across three major cities of Jaipur, Bangalore and Ahmedabad in 2008, the State police had customised its security infrastructure in Bangalore, especially for the growing demand by IT companies.

The security cover by Central Industrial Security Force that formerly guarded only the government establishments and public sector undertakings is now extended to private multinationals.

When Deccan Herald asked Additional Commissioner of Police Law and Order, T Suneel Kumar, if they suspected any Bangalore link to the Hyderabad incident with the 12 terror accused arrested by the Bangalore police last year, he said, “At this point, it is very premature to comment on the matter. Only after the completion of the probe, we will be able to confirm.”  The police have set up checkposts on the State’s borders to check the movement of suspicious vehicles.

Deputy Home Minister R Ashoka said, “The act of terrorism is a threat to the nation. But unfortunately, the Centre continues to remain relaxed even after the 26/11 terror incident.

The states cannot handle terrorist incidents on their own since it involves international elements. Had the Centre given timely warning to Hyderabad, the attacks could have been avoided.”

He said, “Apart from alerting the State’s police department, we have put our police commandoes on standby. They are military trained operatives and are capable of anti-terrorist operations.

“They are mobilised through air, and therefore can be deployed anywhere in Bangalore within five minutes and anywhere in the State within an hour of notice. We will soon open their centres at Mangalore and Belgaum and thereby enable quick response across the State,” he said.