M A I N   N E W S

Centre sounds red alert

NEW DELHI, Aug 12 (UNI) — All states and union territories have been asked to follow a stringent security drill to check any terrorist activity at the behest of Pakistan’s ISI at the time of the Independence Day celebrations in the country.

Police barricades have been put up at all entry points into the national Capital territory and all vehicles coming into the city and particularly travelling towards Red Fort and VVIP residential areas are being checked.

The Centre has sounded a red alert throughout the country apprehending ISI-sponsored violence before and during the Independence Day celebrations.

Sources in the Home Department said the red alert was sounded after Thursday’s explosion at Srinagar, followed by yesterday’s arrest of an ISI agent and recovery of RDX and time-devices in Delhi.

The Centre has also asked the state governments to beef up security arrangements to foil any attempt by the militant gangs to unleash violence and disrupt normal life.

The sources said central intelligence agencies had recently unearthed an ISI plan to create trouble in different parts of the country through their agents and fundamentalist and other militant outfits before and during Independence Day.

They said the ISI had already sent a huge amount of explosives through clandestine routes to India with the sole objective of carrying out a series of explosions in different parts of the country, particularly in the northern and the north-eastern regions.

The sources said the Union Home Ministry is perturbed over the report of Hizbul Mujahideen’s Pakistan-based commander’s threat to launch its heaviest bombardment in 10 years.

The recovery of 10.2 kg of RDX and the arrest of an ISI agent from Delhi, compounded the worry of the ministry.

The sources said besides Muslim militant groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir and other states of the country, ISI-backed insurgent groups in North-East India had planned to carry out attacks before and during Independence Day celebrations.

IMPHAL: Several underground outfits active in the North-East on Saturday issued a joint call for boycotting the Independence Day celebrations on August 15.

They also called the people to observe a general strike on the day.

The joint appeal was issued by ULFA, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Manipur Peoples Liberation Front (MPLF) comprising the PREPAK, the RPF and the UNLF.

Meanwhile, the NSCN (IM) and the Kuki National Front (MC) gave separate calls for boycott of the Independence Day celebrations.

In Meghalaya also the Achik National Volunteer Council and the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council has called a bandh on the Independence Day.