The Hindu : Front Page : Maharashtra, Gujarat alerted on Lashkar attacks

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Tuesday, Jun 30, 2009
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Maharashtra, Gujarat alerted on Lashkar attacks

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Centre has issued an alert to Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra cautioning that the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is planning attacks on vital installations along the Indian coast.

Central security agencies have received a tip-off that the Lashkar’s sea wing is planning a major suicide attack on iconic installations , official sources said.

The alert claimed that some of the Lashkar commanders had moved out of Pakistan and established contact with their people asking them to look for safe houses along the Kutch region in Gujarat.

The Centre has asked the States to increase patrolling not only in the coastal areas but also in high seas, besides sensitising fishermen to the problem.

Gujarat DGP S.S. Khanwawala said the police had already started a security survey of industrial units.

The Centre also asked these States to adhere to the tight maritime security norms, under which 500 metres within important installations located along the 7,500-km coastline were declared “no-fishing zone.”

The Home Ministry provides help to nine coastal States and four Union Territories under the Coastal Security Scheme launched in 2005.

The assistance has been given for setting up 73 police stations, 97 checkposts, 58 outposts and 30 barracks.

Corrections and Clarifications

The penultimate paragraph of a report "Maharashtra, Gujarat alerted on Lashkar attacks" (June 30, 2009, page 1) said that the Coastal Security Scheme was launched in 2005, leading to a query on the year. The scheme has been formulated for strengthening infrastructure for patrolling and surveillance of India's coastal areas, particularly the shallow areas close to the coast to check illegal crossborder activities and criminal activities. The scheme is being implemented in nine coastal States (Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal) and four Union Territories (Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands) from the year 2005-06. It was approved in January 2005 for implementation in five years from 2005-06.

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