Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Home ministry warns of attacks during Ganesh festival

August 25, 2006 18:13 IST
The Union Home Ministry has warned of the possibility of strikes by Pakistan-based militant groups during the ten-day Ganesh festival beginning on August 27.

It has issued an advisory to all the states, especially to Maharashtra, to ensure tight vigil against any attempt by the militant groups to foment trouble during the festival. An official spokesman of the ministry said though the advisory has been issued to all the states, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, where the festival is celebrated in a big way, were asked to be particularly watchful as militants may try to create some disturbances.

The Ministry has ordered tight screening of religious processions when people carry the idols of Lord Ganesha for immersion.

Besides stregthening of human and technical intelligence, the ministry asked for installation of metal detectors at all the important temples and increasing the number of security personnel at the religious places including the Siddhi Vinayak temple in central Mumbai.

Mumbai witnessed deadly serial blasts on July 11 in which nearly 190 people were killed.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.