SECURITY HAS been intensified in and around the historic Kashi Vishwanath Temple here following a sensational e-mail regarding possible threat to this shrine among other sensitive installations in the country.
Security has been beefed up in and around the entire area of Vishwanath Temple soon after police received information that Pakistan-based terrorist outfits Lashker-e-Tayyeba and Jaish-e- Mohammed had sent sensational e-mails to Rashtrapati Bhawan and Prime Minister’s Office threatening a possible strike against this shrine, IIT Kanpur and others.
However, a senior police officer looking after the security of Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanwapi mosque told HT that there were military intelligence inputs also of Kashi Vishwanath Temple being on hit list of Pakistan-based terrorist outfits.
“We were always on our toes but some incidents that have taken place close to this sensitive area earlier have put us on more alert,” Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanwapi mosque Jugal Kishore Tiwari told HT.
“We changed our strategy on Friday evening when this e-mail threat issue came to light,” he said. “We many not be in a position to reveal the strategy change from the security point of view,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}“We changed our strategy on Friday evening when this e-mail threat issue came to light,” he said. “We many not be in a position to reveal the strategy change from the security point of view,” he added.
{{/usCountry}}It may be mentioned that seven persons were killed in a powerful blast at the Dashaswmedh Ghat close to Kashi Vishwanath Temple in February last.
Sources said that on Friday evening, ASP Tiwari briefed the security personnel on duty about the fresh development. “A new strategy was devised as an extra caution in view of the terrorist threat,” sources said.
Besides video recording of the devotees visiting the shrine, frisking and identification of the incoming devotees and people moving around has been enhanced since Friday evening.
There were credible reports that even the security personnel on duty were directed to wear bulletproof jackets, which until Friday were gathering dust in the godowns.
“We have sufficient force at our command to deal with any eventuality,” Deputy Inspector General of Police, Varanasi range, RN Yadav told HT.
This hypersensitive area is currently guarded by 6 companies of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), 4 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), a strong group of UP Police’s intelligence wing ‘LIU’, besides 125 sub-inspectors, 350 constables, 100 women constables, three Circle Officers (CO) at the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, one Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) among others. Out of three CO posts, one is lying vacant as the incumbent CO was transferred and the vacancy was not yet filled.