Odisha puts all districts on high alert post terror attack warning from IB

Odisha government has put all the districts in the state on high alert on Thursday following Intelligence Bureau's warning of a possible terror attack by Pak-based groups to four states. Odisha Special Secretary, Home, Lalit Das said besides Odisha, Maharastra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have also been alerted by IB.

"Odisha's DGP and Intelligence Director have been informed about the situation. All the districts of the state have been put on high alert. The police have been also told to keep tight vigil on important installations to avoid possible terror attacks," he said.

All the 18 marine police stations have been asked to be extra vigilant, he said, adding, the IB warning said the terror groups are likely to attack before January 28. Director General of Police Sanjeev Marik said all the superintendents of police have been asked to be on high alert.

"It may not necessarily be a big attack. But the threat of a small attack is definitely there," Marik said. He said security personnel have been asked to keep an eye on crowded public places and meeting venues as they are more vulnerable to terror attacks.

The recent IB input is being considered significant in view of last year's report that two dreaded Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists had visited Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri but the state police did not get any confirmation.
Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have dispatched four groups to India for carrying out terror attacks in significant areas, sources in the home department said quoting intelligence agencies' report.