Headley effect: Centre puts five states on terror alert

NEW DELHI: In the backdrop of American terror suspect David Headley's several visits to India, the Centre on Wednesday warned five states, including Uttarkhand and Maharashtra, against terrorist attacks particularly targeting military training academies.

Home Ministry sources the alerts were issued as Headley, arrested by FBI for allegedly plotting an attack in India for terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba, on suspicion that during his stay in India between 2006 and 2009 he may have done a recce of some vital installations in India for carrying out strikes.

They said the warnings had been issued to Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Maharashtra as a precautionary measure after it was found during investigations that Headley had visited Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Agra, Delhi and done a recce of National Defence College and vital installations in other cities.

The sources said it is possible that Headley has established sleeper cells in these states.

He was also conducting recruitment of cadres for Pakistan-based terror group Lashker-e-Taiba, for sending them to a Gulf country using the services of his immigration business set up in Mumbai.

The states alerted have been asked to coordinate with the army authorities as well as the administration of Indian Military Academy in Dehradun and Khadakwasla about the security to the vital installations.