Security tightened in Puducherry

MOUNTED VIGIL: A mobile patrollinh vehicle with armed polcie was pressed into service in the wake of terror threat in Puducherry on Saturday. Photo: T. Singaravelou

Security has been tightened in important places in the town following a Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) warning of a possible terror attack at Puducherry in “the near future.”

Sharing information with the media on Saturday on the warning, Home Minister E. Valsaraj said, “We have taken the threat perception very seriously.” The communication from the MHA “did not point out the nature of threat or the group but it is very specific to Puducherry.”

Urging the public to be vigilant about unattended bags and brief cases, he said information about such objects should be immediately communicated to the police. Till a separate toll-free number was launched, the public can inform Senior Superintendent of Police (Law and Order) by calling 9443240290, Mr. Valsaraj said.

The territorial administration has sought a few companies of Tamil Nadu police as reserve battalion to tackle any law and order problem arising out of the situation. The force would be kept under the command of Director-General of Police, Puducherry Alok Kumar Verma, it was learnt reliably.

A team from Tamil Nadu has started giving refresher training to the Commando Force of the Puducherry police stationed at the Gorimedu Police Training School. Vigil has been enhanced in Auroville, in Villupuram district, with Tamil Nadu police, it was learnt.

Security in and around Aurobindo Ashram, Manakula Vinayagar Koil, Raj Nivas and French Consulate have been enhanced. Sand bunkers manned by armed police have been constructed in front of the Ashram and Manakula Vinayagar Koil. Metal detectors are in use in all the five places.

Ashram authorities have displayed notice informing visitors to avoid bringing handbags on The Mother’s birthday, which falls on Sunday. Entry points to the Ashram and Manakula Vinayagar Koil have been barricaded, restricting vehicle movement.

Besides deploying a mobile vehicle with armed commandos, a large number of police personnel, including plainclothes men, have been pressed into service for patrolling round the clock.