Security screw in and around the defence establishments inOdisha's Balasore and Bhadrak districts was tightened on Wednesday in the wakeof an attack threat from the Jihadi outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).
While additional forces have been deployed in the defenceestablishments here, patrolling along the roads leading to these units and theeastern sea coast has been intensified.
Assam DGP Jayanta Narayan Choudhury had on Tuesday warnedthat the LeT was planning attacks on the missile test range and Rath Yatra inOdisha besides making fresh recruitments in the Northeast for the purpose.
Balasore houses defence institutions like Integrated TestRange (ITR), Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) and MilitaryEngineering Service (MES) while another missile launching complex is located inWheeler Islandoff the Bhadrak coast.
Source said, with the deployment of Quick Reaction Teams,all-round security has been beefed up in PXE and ITR from where a number ofsophisticated rockets and missiles are tested every year.
A defence official said entry of outsiders and visitors hasbeen totally banned while only authorized card holders are being allowed toenter. Similarly thorough checking and patrolling along the Range roadconnecting Balasore with Chandipur has been intensified.
"The defence establishments usually stay alerted allround the year, but after the intelligence inputs over the possible attack bythe LeT militants we have tightened the security crew a few notches more,"he added.
According to the sources, the defence establishments hereare ringed by two tiers of security forces - one by Defence Security Forces(DSF) and another by the state police. Ten platoons Defence Security Core (DSC)are deployed in the ITR while another six platoons of home guards are also hereto assist them. Similarly, nine platoons of DSC and three platoons of homeguards have been put on alert in PXE.
Usually the defence-armed forces guard the inside areas ofthese defence establishments while the home guards of State police departmentoversee the surrounding areas.
ITR director MVKV Prasad said they have taken the threatseriously and made the arrangements accordingly to deal with any eventuality.“The security inside the defence establishments here always remains tightened.All the security personnel have been alerted about the threat perception andasked to remain more vigilant,” he added.
Meanwhile, tight security arrangements also have been madeat the railway stations of both the coastal districts. A railway protectionforce (RPF) official said luggage of the suspected passengers are beingproperly checked and passengers have been asked to report if they found anysubstance or boxes in mysterious condition at the platform and inside thetrains.