VIGIL: Security stepped up at the Chennai Central Railway Station on Friday. —
CHENNAI: Security forces were put on high alert in Chennai and its suburbs since Thursday night following a letter received at the Adyar police station that warned of attacks on important targets.
Though the letter did not specify any date or time for an attack, it named the Tamil Nadu Police Academy, Chennai Airport, Officers Training Academy and the “American Embassy” (U.S. Consulate) among others as its targets and challenged the police to avert the sabotage if they could, police sources said.
According to a source in the intelligence wing of the police, the letter also listed T.Nagar, Ritchie Street and the Marina beach as possible areas of attack. It warned of an RDX explosion at the Chennai Central railway station.
Coincidentally, an official of a United Nations agency based in New Delhi communicated to the Tamil Nadu Police a similar threat perception, based on inputs that were received by the agency.
The Chennai Police promptly enhanced surveillance and manpower deployment at vulnerable places as part of ‘Standard Operating Procedure’.
“It could be a prank… but we are not taking any chances. Anti-sabotage checks are being conducted at vantage points and police presence has been stepped up in areas of public gathering,” Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran said on Friday.
Since the Chennai airport was also cited as a target, the Central Industrial Security Force was alerted. “Unlike the usual hoax calls, this letter talks of the RDX explosive, rocket launchers, grenade attacks and shootouts. There is also a mention that the entire planning was being done at a place in Kotturpuram in Chennai.”
Mr. Rajendran said patrolling and vehicle checks had been intensified in the city. “No specific threat has been perceived by the intelligence agencies. We have formed a special team to investigate the source of the letter which also states that the details of the attack would be informed later.”
Director General of Police K.P. Jain said there was no panic situation. Instructions were given to the agencies concerned to carry out mandatory checks. “Such letters keep coming and we never take anything lightly,” he added.
Additional Director General of Police (Law & Order) K. Radhakrishnan said the Railway Police were told to mount surveillance at the Central and Egmore railway stations in Chennai.
Threat to TNCC officeIn a separate development, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee headquarters secretary R. Dhamotharan lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police that an anonymous caller had on Friday warned of explosions in the TNCC office on Thiru Vi Ka Salai and the residence of TNCC president K.V. Thangkabalu at Adyar.
The man had claimed he was calling from the Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camp at Gummidipoondi, near Chennai.
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