Independence Day security: Hawk eye on Air India flights, naval bases

Ahead of Independence Day, the government has issued a detailed advisory, directing states and Union Territories to beef up the security.

The seven-page advisory, which is little different from every year, has details keeping in mind the execution of Mumbai blasts convict Yakub Memon, who was hanged on July 30.

The government has mentioned the possibility of attacks by Pakistan-sponsored terror groups.

It states specific security threats including a Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT plan to hijack or blow up an Air India flight on the Kabul-Delhi-Kabul sector and al-Qaeda's designs to hit Indian naval facilities including the Karwar naval base (INS Kadamba), the Southern Naval Command in Kochi (INS Venduruthy) and Mumbai-based Western Naval Command.

"Independence Day function ... provides an attractive target for various militant, terrorist outfits ... and rabid communal elements due to high publicity value and concentrated presence of dignitaries," the advisory stated.

Security has been beefed up at BJP offices, commercial, aviation, tourist and railway facilities, as the advisory highlighted al-Qaida's plans to target these places.

The Independence Day alert cites the continuous flow of intelligence inputs regarding specific threat of terror attacks by LeT, Jaish-e-Mohammad and even al-Qaeda.

It points out a LeT plot to target Mumbai or Gujarat around September or October, while a March alert speaks of possible fidayeen attacks in Delhi and J&K.

In view of the terror threats, the security agencies have asked the forces and state police to maintain "strict access control and anti-sabotage checks" besides intensifying patrolling and keeping strict vigil at railway stations and tracks, bus stands, airports and entry points.

(Image: Indiatimes)