Gujarat on alert ahead of Independence Day

The Gujarat government has ordered that an elaborate security blanket be thrown over all major cities ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, officials said on Friday.

The move follows intelligence inputs received by the home department from the central and state intelligence bureaux that terrorists could target some cities during August 15 celebrations.

All the police checkposts on the borders with Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have been put on high alert with directives to check every vehicle entering the state. Highway patrol personnel have been asked to intensify vigil on both state and national highways, a home department official said.

Both day and night patrolling have been intensified in cities such as Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot with civil defence personnel being asked to help local police units and inform them about any suspicious movements in their localities.Surveillance cameras are being fitted in public places in major cities.

Hotel owners across Gujarat have been asked to remain alert and inform the police about suspicious people booking rooms in their properties.

Police have also started sending out rural patrolling teams in farmlands to ensure terrorists don’t take shelter in such places before planning a strike, the official said.