As the school authorities escalated the matter around 7 am, security agencies got into the act. What worried the agencies was that while the suspects were reportedly speaking in an incomprehensible language, two words could be clearly heard – school and ONGC.
A high alert was sounded in Mumbai and adjoining areas on Thursday after two schoolchildren reported spotting suspicious persons in the Uran area. While the first child informed the school principal about one suspected terrorist, the other reported a group of 5-6 – all dressed in black, pathani suits and probably carrying weapons in their backpacks. Both reported spotting the terrorists near the Uran bus depot.
As the school authorities escalated the matter around 7 am, security agencies got into the act. What worried the agencies was that while the suspects were reportedly speaking in an incomprehensible language, two words could be clearly heard – school and ONGC.
The Navy, Coast Guard, Intelligence Bureau, National Security Guard (NSG), Force One, Coastal Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Crime Branch, Quick Response Team, Home Guards, Navi Mumbai Police, Mumbai Police and Thane Police all pressed their teams for surveillance.
ONGC has a major installation in Uran. This plant is for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) processing and related products. Areas in and around Uran also have sensitive installations like INS Abhimanyu, a base of Marcos, the elite marine commandos of the Indian Navy, Naval Armament Depot, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, among other. A platoon of the NSG, too, was flown in and deployed in and around Uran.
All educational institutions in Uran remained shut during the day and some reports said that even locals were not allowed to venture out of their homes during the combing operations. In fact, in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai and adjoining areas, there were random checks by the local police.
"Indian Navy's Western Naval Command first alerted all coastal security stakeholders. Searches and other actions were initiated. The situation is being closely monitored in liaison with the police. No person has been located or apprehended till now," said Commander Rahul Sinha, Indian Navy spokesperson.
There was no headway till late Thursday evening. "The Maharashtra Director General of Police has been asked to submit a detailed report on the Uran terror alert by Friday," said KP Bakshi, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department.
The identity of the two children hasn't been disclosed.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Uran")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}