Security beefed up at key places of worship in Karnataka

Security at key places of worship in Karnataka has been stepped up following a Central government directive in the wake of the Varanasi blast."They (the Central government) have instructed us to keep an eye on places of worship. We are keeping a hawk's eye vigil," Home minister R Ashoka said in Bangalore today.Barring the advice on security for places of worship, there are no specific instructions from the Centre, he said.A low intensity blast ripped through a crowded bathing ghat on the banks of the Ganges river during evening prayers on December 7, killing two-year-old girl and a woman and injuring around 31 persons, including a couple of foreigners.