Red alert sounded in Varanasi ahead of Independence Day

VARANASI: A red alert was sounded in the district on Saturday ahead of the Independence Day and security measures beefed up at vital installations like the airport, railway stations, religious shrines and other sensitive public places in view of the threat perceptions from terrorists and subversive elements.

The security measures at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport at Babatpur, Cantonment Railway Station, Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque Complex, Sankat Mochan temple and other religious shrines have been beefed up ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, District Magistrate Rajiv Agarwal said.

While the securitymen manning the airport, railway station and other vital installations were taking necessary measures to ensure tight security measures at these sensitive installations, the district civil and police authorities were also coordinating with the security agencies, he said.

The authorities were keeping close watch on the movement and activities of the people at the cantonment railway station, bus stands and other public places and intensified patrolling was being carried out at all these places in order to foil any subversive and terrorist acts, Agarwal said.

The police authorities were conducting searches at the hotels, guest houses, restaurants and lodges and checking the register of visitors in order to apprehend suspicious looking persons, the district magistrate said.

The security measures at the religious shrines, including the sensitive Kashi Vishwanath Mosque complex, Sankat Mochan temple and other religious shrines have also been tightened, he said.