Security has been beefed up at all major temples in the state after the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of the Centre alerted that terrorists might sneak into temples with IED hidden in waist belts.
Security has been beefed up at all major temples in the state after the Intelligence Bureau (IB) of the Centre alerted that terrorists might sneak into temples with IED hidden in waist belts. Though the alert is meant for all temples, it has been specifically directed at the historic Somnath temple.
“After we get the input on Thursday evening, we immediately banned waist belts in Somnath temple,” said Junagadh
in-charge district superintendent of police Dipankar Trivedi.
He said that they had been fed with the IB input saying that explosives could be carried in waist belts and used in temple premises. Trivedi, however, said that the alert was not specifically for Somnath temple.
Sources in Somnath temple just said that “belts are banned for the security of the temple visitors.” The other temples where security has been tightened include Dakor, Dwarka, Pavagadh and Ambaji.
Though a general terror alert has been sounded to all states, Gujarat has been specifically asked to watch out its temples.
According to the IB input, a terrorist may use around 800 grams of any explosive in an improvised explosive device (IED) and carry it in a waist belt. The Gujarat government had been specifically given the input for Somnath temple. “There are more chances of a terrorists attack on Somnath temple in view of its historical importance,” said a source. The input was provided by the IB late on Thursday evening and immediately an alert was sounded in the state. “Policemen were immediately deployed at railway stations, ST stands and other public places,” said police source. Apart from Ahmedabad, heavy deployment of forces has been made in Junagadh, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Surat and Vadodara. Police also conducted checks in hotels, dharamshalas and guest houses.
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