State on toes after IB terror alert

The Ahmedabad police and other special security agencies have been put on alert based on the Intelligence Bureau (IB) inputs.

Intelligence reports shared with the state police said that an anonymous letter was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO),threatening al-Qaeda would carry out bomb blasts at 17 places across the state.

“We have received the letter from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that terrorists would carry out blasts in near future. An anonymous and undated letter was sent to the PMO on Friday,threatening blasts,” said Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Amitabh Pathak.

Based on the input,security in all major cities,including Ahmedabad,Vadodara,Rajkot and Surat,has been tightened.

“The police have started security operations along with the state commando forces. CHETAK commandos and quick response teams (QRTs) would remain stationed at important places in the city,” said ADGP (Law and Order) Sudhir Sinha.

He added that extra police forces,formed for such situations,have also been alerted in Ahmedabad,besides the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Operations Group (SOG).

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad and other airports in the state are getting extra security attention.

Also,railway stations,bus stations,markets,important government and private buildings,and eduction institutes among others would remain under police surveillance.