Southern states on alert over possible LeT terror threat

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu were put on alert following intelligence inputs warning of possible terror strikes in southern cities by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) ulras.

In Andhra Pradesh, security was tightened in and around the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota and a red alert sounded in the temple town of Tirupati besides mounting a strict surveillance at the state assembly, public places and at the residences of ministers, MLAs and other VIPs.

After the intelligence warning, Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy reviewed security measures in major cities and towns and assured the people that the police was fully equipped to deal with any emergency.

Karnataka placed its police force, anti-terrorist cell and intelligence wing and special agencies on high alert following the inputs received from the Centre on possible terror attacks from LeT.

"We received an alert last night that there is a possibility of a three-member LeT gang striking in Andhra Pradesh and Centre wants Karnataka to be also on alert", State's Home Minister Dr V S Acharya told reporters in Bangalore.

In Chennai, State ADGP (Law and Order) K Radhakrishnan told PTI that "there is a general alert and we have put in place a proper prevention mechanism in place."

Intelligence officials said the alert by the Centre was not specific to Chennai but the metropolis was considered a 'vulnerable target' for terror attacks.