NEW DELHI: (AMN) The Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik has assured the nation that his forces were now much better prepared to tackle Mumbai-type strikes. On the eve of the second anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, he said, the armed forces were prepared then and even now there is no change in readiness, but as a country, India is now much better prepared. He was talking to journalists on the sidelines of an event on O-Zone Depleting Substances here. He was replying to queries on the armed forces’ preparations to prevent Mumbai-style terror attacks.
Meanwhile the country has been put on high alert with the Centre asking all states and union territories to tighten security to foil any attempt to disturb peace anywhere ahead of the second anniversary of the Mumbai terror attacks. The Home Ministry asked states and Union Territories, particularly Maharashtra and Delhi, to deploy additional forces in markets, religious and other public places as militants might try to strike. The Centre has also asked authorities to install a sizeable number of CCTV cameras, metal detectors and other electronics gadgets in crowded places to monitor movement of people and for a thorough check up of people. Special instruction has also been given to beef up security along the country’s coastline as the 26/11 attackers had come to Mumbai taking the sea route. The Home Ministry is not taking any chances in view of the ongoing international film festival in Goa and beginning of the tourist season. Thousands of tourists – both domestic and foreign – throng popular tourist centres like Goa, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir during this time of the year. According to AIR last fortnight, a Western intelligence agency had informed New Delhi that Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba may launch spectacular strikes in crowded places in Mumbai, similar to the one carried out two years ago. Another intelligence input had suggested that Kashmiri terror outfits may strike in three markets, including popular underground market Palika Bazar, in Delhi.
India has also issued a note verbale, a less formal note to Pakistan on the eve of the second anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks. The note asked Islamabad to fulfill its obligation and commitment to bring to justice the perpetrators of 26/11 carnage. Government sources said, it also pointed out the lack of progress in the trial of seven accused in Pakistan who were arrested in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks.