The Intelligence Bureau has warned of possible attack on VVIPs, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram, by cadres of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), highly placed police sources said on Wednesday.
In a message to the State police, the Central intelligence agency is said to have warned that some remnant LTTE cadres had entered Tamil Nadu with a plan to eliminate the VVIPs before December 20.
“We convened an emergency meeting of top police officials to discuss the issue…security has been enhanced for the Chief Minister. The information is that some LTTE cadres have regrouped with a specific mission of attacking some VVIPs,” a police official said.
The ‘Q' Branch CID on Tuesday night issued an alert to all coastal districts in the State about the threat and called for enhanced vigil in vulnerable areas.
“With Dr. Singh's scheduled to visit Chennai in the first week of January, police have stepped up surveillance in Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps. The threat message will be borne in mind while drafting security scheme for these VVIPs,” the official said.
Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) K. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu that a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) was stationed near the residence of Mr. Chidambaram in his native Sivaganga district.
“We are enhancing security on the train/road routes taken by the Home Minister in Tamil Nadu. An alert has been issued to the Coastal Security Group and other security units. Close proximity security of VVIPs is being strengthened,” he said.
