NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday warned the states and security agencies that remnants of Indian Mujahideen (IM) terror outfit based in Pakistan and LeT may carry out terror attacks in the country.
The two-page advisory was triggered by the recent terror incidents in Australia and Pakistan, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) officials said pointing out recent developments with regard to IS both in India and West Asia and the heightened possibility of terrorist attacks in the light of the ensuing visit of US President Barack Obama in January.
“The incidents and the developments warrant immediate attention of all intelligence and law enforcement agencies across India. It is felt that by the end of January 2015, the security forces and intelligence agencies need to remain on a very high alert mode to prevent untoward incidents witnessed recently in the neighbourhood as well as in the other parts of the world,” the MHA advisory said.
The MHA has also stated that Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT has considerable capacity to carry out terror attacks.
The Ministry while taking cognisance of Sydney cafe siege has warned that ‘lone wolf’ attacks by radicalised IS sympathisers are also a possibility and such attacks can only be prevented if the central and state intelligence agencies mobilise all resources and assets at their disposal and focus on collecting actionable intelligence.
“Law enforcement agencies should also take all measures towards “target hardening” of vulnerable places and installations. This includes public places with high footfalls, public transport, including railways and schools in Particular,” The advisory added.
In the wake of Peshawar school attack, the note has specifically mentioned the strengthening of security cover around the schools which could be vulnerable.
The MHA said, “In the light of the attack on a school in Pakistan, there appears to be an immediate requirement to scale up security around schools and other educational institutions which are considered more vulnerable due to variety of factors.”