Date:16/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/16/stories/2008051660181200.htm

National

Threat to HAL Lucknow unit

Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW: Security has been tightened in the Lucknow unit of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) following an SMS received by the Director-General of Police, Vikram Singh, which said that the Defence establishment is likely to be subjected to a terrorist attack. The SMS was received by the State police chief shortly after the serial bomb blasts in Jaipur on Tuesday.

Special Secretary (Home), D. K. Gupta confirmed the receipt of the SMS and said eight crack commandos equipped with AK-47 rifles have been stationed at strategic points in HAL.

Interrogation

The SMS was reportedly sent to the DGP by someone in the State capital and the police is reported to have picked up one person for interrogation in this regard. This followed the receipt of the call details of two mobile numbers by the Lucknow police, which were received on Wednesday evening.

In addition to the vigil being stepped up in HAL, orders have been issued for strengthening security at prominent places in the State, including vital installations, tourist centres and religious places. Meanwhile, in a fresh advisory sent by the State Home Department, the district magistrates and district police chiefs have been asked to sensitise the security personnel in areas under their jurisdiction.

In a related development, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS ) of Uttar Pradesh have detained the owner of a cyber café in Sahibabad in Ghaziabad district and his son for interrogation. The Home Department spokesman here said Siya Ram Mishra and his son, Madhukar Mishra, were picked up by the ATS early on Thursday for interrogation. Though the spokesperson refused to divulge the details and the reason why the cyber café owner and his son have been detained, sources said the e-mail showing a bicycle with a bag strapped on it, supposedly containing the explosive material, parked in a Jaipur market place, was sent from the Sahibabad cyber café.

The e-mail was sent on Wednesday to some media houses, reportedly by the Indian Mujahideen, that has claimed responsibility for the serial blasts.