COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu was put on terror alert on Friday following a military intelligence warning that six Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have infiltrated into the state through the eastern coast and have entered Coimbatore.
The military intelligence alert issued to the state home department on Thursday said one Pakistani national and five Sri Lankan Tamil Muslims entered Tamil Nadu via sea from the island nation.
It said the group had disguised themselves as Hindus. “At present the terrorist group is in Coimbatore. One of them is identified as Illyas Anwar, probably a Pak national,” the alert said. The agencies identified possible targets as the Shrine of Velankanni, Nagapattinam; Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Ooty; Air Force Station, Sulur, Coimbatore; Sabarimala shrine, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, among others. State police and other security agencies tightened security at airports, railway stations and other public places. Vehicle checking and patrolling has been intensified, particularly along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu.
Armed reserve police have been deployed along the inter-state border to prevent the suspected LeT operatives from entering neighbouring states. Within the city, 2,000 police personnel have been deployed at vital points, besides commandos from 10 groups of the Quick Response Team.