India On High Terror Alert

This year, the threats are from multiple sources. Indian intelligence reports indicate that Islamist groups based in Pakistan and Bangladesh are planning strikes on Indian soil. Indian Maoist groups are also reportedly plotting attacks.

In the southern city of Hyderabad, where the World Badminton Championships are underway, a thick security blanket has been thrown around the indoor stadium after a warning by intelligence agencies about a terror threat.

About 500 international players and officials are already in the city but on Wednesday two Austrian players pulled out and quietly left without informing the organisers. Juergen Koch and Peter Zauner are surmised to have feared security threats. The England team withdrew from the week-long tournament earlier this week.

Security around sports teams touring the Subcontinent has been stepped up since an attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan in March.

Very perceptible security threat

Indian security expert Hartosh Singh Bal says that the authorities are right to be alert: “From the information that is now filtering out, the security threat is very, very perceptible because there is almost a transition in the very nature of Indian terrorism."

“For the first time, we are looking at well-educated, reasonably affluent terrorists who have an ideology that is not restricted by the boundaries of India. India needs to upgrade its capabilities across the board.”

The government has asked police to beef up security in market places, cinema halls, bus and railway stations and iconic buildings that could be the targets of terror groups ahead of Independence Day celebrations at the weekend.

As the country's top leadership is expected to be in full attendance at the Red Fort on Independence Day, the historic monument will be turned into a citadel. For starters, the entire Red Fort complex is being sanitised.

Government means business

Terrorism expert Ajay Sahni says the advisories sent out show that the government means business and the fact that “local police forces across the country have been forewarned shows that they are doing more than in the past. What is being done, at a level of greater publicity, greater clarity and effort, is to standardise processes across the country.”

The US government, in a fresh security alert to its citizens in India, has also warned of possible terrorist attacks in the country. A recent message asked American nationals to "maintain a heightened situational awareness and a low profile.”

Special stress is being given to anti-sabotage and anti-explosive checks, tight access control and vigil on rail and transport links.

On Independence Day, the capital will be declared a no-fly zone for the morning and air defence guns will be placed at strategic locations to ward off possible aerial attacks by unmanned or micro light aircraft.

Author: Murali Krishnan
Editor: Anne Thomas