Can't rule out possibility of terror attack: Rajnath

In an advisory, the ministry on Monday said that the country has recently witnessed communal incidents in many places during the festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja.

The possibility of terror attack in the country cannot be ruled out, home minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday.

"No possibility can be ruled out. We cannot ignore terror activities. Hence alerts are issued," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

Singh was replying to a question on whether there is a possibility of a terror attack during the festival season.

Asked about the advisory issued by the home ministry telling all states to ensure security in places of worship and communally sensitive places during festival season, the home minister said such advisories are being issued regularly on the basis of the information received by the government.

"We issue regular alerts. We issue alerts on the basis of whatever information we get," he said.

In an advisory, the ministry on Monday said that the country has recently witnessed communal incidents in many places during the festivals of Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja.

It also said that communal atmosphere was strained in some states during Bakrid over issues related to animal sacrifice.

Since the Diwali/Kali puja will be celebrated on October 23, it is necessary that continued vigil and proper security arrangements are made at places of worship during observance of the festival especially in the communally hyper sensitive/sensitive areas to prevent communal disturbances, the advisory said.

Earlier, paying rich tribute to the martyrs at an event organised on the occasion of the Police Commemoration Day, the home minister said the government will create a national police memorial in Delhi's Chanakyapuri, where the function was held.

"I think, the work in this direction will begin this month itself," he said.