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Kumbh authorities on alert against terrorist attacks

Intelligence reports have hinted that the Kumbh Mela could be targetted by militant outfits active in India.

Even though local officials denied that there was any direct threat, they admitted that there was still sufficient reason to remain alert.

"This was surmised from the messages intercepted by the Intelligence Bureau and other intelligence agencies," the mela's Divisional Commissioner Sadakant told mediapersons in Kumbh Nagar Wednesday evening.

"After all this is the single largest congregation on earth. Any terrorist outfit bent upon creating trouble could try to take advantage," he said.

"Considering the sheer number of people converging here during the six-week mela, this place is a soft target and we cannot close our eyes to that," he said.

He, however, claimed, "We are fully equipped to deal with any such situation and have taken every possible steps to prevent any such strike."

He added, "There is absolutely no need for people to panic over such reports. Public life and property will be protected at all costs."

And evidently, the administration is on full alert. A top-level meeting was again held between mela authorities and the local unit of the army and air force

The army's anti-mine and anti-bomb squads are already fully activated to ensure periodic scanning of the vast 6000-acre mela area. Sniffer dogs are also on the job, making random checks across the length and breadth of the bathing ghats and the Sangam.

The army was keeping a vigil for suspected terrorists, whose photographs had been passed on by intelligence agencies. The akharas and other sadhu camps have also been requested to keep a vigil on the entry of people since authorities feel that a sadhu's cover could be the most convenient disguise for a militant to sneak in. Similarly, strict check was being kept on issue of press passes to journalists.

Complete coverage of the Kumbh Mela

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