GUWAHATI, June 21 � A disturbing input , which originated in Assam, created ripples in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the states of Orissa and Maharashtra as well as other states of the country were alerted by the Ministry.
Highly-placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that according to the input received, insurgent outfit Lashkar-E-Toiba (LeT) was planning to trigger off explosions in Puri in Orissa during the Rath Yatra festival as well as in Mumbai.
Sources revealed that the Assam Police came across the input yesterday and as is the practice these days and considering the gravity of it, immediately shared with the Central agencies, who immediately informed the MHA about the input. The input created ripples in the MHA and all the agencies were alerted while, the MHA also immediately asked the Governments of Orissa and Maharashtra to take immediate precautionary measures.
Sources pointed out that any explosion in Puri during the Rath Yatra festival would be disastrous as lakhs of devotees and tourists from all over the country and abroad flock to Puri during the famous Rath Yatra festival and that is why the Centre took the input with due seriousness and acted promptly. On the other hand, Mumbai city has always been a major target for the militant groups like the LeT and any input about possible attack in the city cannot be taken lightly. However, no senior officer of Assam Police is ready to come on record on the source of the input.
Though the LeT is yet to indulge in any act of violence in Assam, there have been reports of movements of members of Islamic insurgent outfits through the state by taking advantage of the porous international border as the LeT and other such outfits still have strong bases in Bangladesh. It was also reported that the LeT recruited a few boys from Assam in 2008 but the identity of the boys could not be ascertained, sources added.
