Intelligence inputs indicated Pune was on terror radar: MHA

The government had intelligence inputs to indicate that Pune was vulnerable to terror attack, based on which the state police issued detailed security guidelines last year to major commercial establishments, including the German Bakery.

The government had intelligence inputs to indicate that Pune was vulnerable to terror attack, based on which the state police issued detailed security guidelines last year to major commercial establishments, including the German Bakery.

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A blast in the popular bakery in the city on on February 13 had claimed 17 lives.

In a reply in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken said, "The suspected main targets in Pune were put under protection by deployment of force including pickets. However, due to obvious limitation of manpower it was not possible to bring all public places under police security cover."

"There were intelligence inputs to indicate that certain places in Pune and some other cities in India, were on the target list of terrorist outfits. Accordingly on October 9, 2009 as a preventive step the state police had issued detailed security guidelines to major commercial establishments including the German Bakery...The terrorists succeeded in attacking a 'soft' target," he said.

The Minister also said an expenditure of Rs 33.17 crore has been incurred on strengthening the Multi Agency Centre.