In view of recent alert from centre government regarding possibility of terrorist strike at the main tourist station, high alert has been sounded in Himachal Pradesh for the New Year festivities.
Sources in the state intelligence told Hindustan Times though the high alert has been sounded by the Centre government addresses to four states that do not include Himachal Pradesh but the alert has been sounded as precaution.
Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on Thursday convened a meeting of security and home official to take stock of the security arrangement for New Year, as heavy tourist arrival is expected for the festivities. State government has asked the police department to make elaborate security arrangements at the main tourist destinations including, Shimla, Dharamshala, Kullu-Manali, Chamba, Dalhousie, Mandi, and Kasuali.
In the wake of heavy rush expected for the new year celebrations in the different tourist resorts, the police has tightened security at the interstate borders. Strict vigil is being kept on the tourist and cops are carrying random checking of vehicles. Government has directed the police to keep surveillance at the crowded places like the shopping precincts, bus stands and the railway stations.
Police has sounded special alerts for the temples and other places of religious importance. Apart from this the bomb disposal squads would be stationed in places which are expected to witness heavy tourist rush. Cops armed with light machines guns will be deputed at the places of vantage points in the tourist destinations, apart from this sniffer dogs will be kept at the tourist stations, a senior police officials said.
“Adequate security arrangements have been made for the New Year festivities, strict vigil is being kept over the visitors’ said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kangra, Dr Atul Fulzele. Police has decided to depute tourist friendly cops who would guide the tourist visiting hill station for festivities. Police officials are expecting heavy rush for the New Year festivities, as the majority of the hotels in the main tourist towns of the state have been booked is advance.
Not only the police has worked out arrangement for security in hill stations, special alert has been sounded in Chamba district which shares its border with terrorist infested and sensitive areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The police and the paramilitary forces manning the 300 long borders in Chamba are carrying joint patrol, even as the high mountainous region experience fresh snow spell. There is growing fear that terrorist and the anti- social elements hiding in Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua districts of JK could use the other transit routes which do not receives less snow fall to cross over. ‘All the vulnerable points have been plugged and strict vigil is being kept on the borders’ SP, Chamba Madhusudan Sharma said when reached over telephone.
Reports emerging from Jammu and Kashmir indicated that terrorist were making frantic efforts to infiltrate and those hiding in Jammu and Kashmir could cross over to high mountainous region of Chamba to avoid the eye of security forces.