IB warns of major Lashkar attack, terrorists likely to sneak in through the sea again

NEW DELHI: After alerts about a possible terror strike on Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, has come a more specific intelligence input warning of a jihadi attack on seven important spots ��� including a leading bank in Fort area, railway stations, a hotel and a shopping mall ��� in Mumbai.

The Intelligence Bureau, in its alert passed on to Mumbai police on July 8 for necessary action, has warned of yet another major terror offensive by the Lashkar-e-Taiba during the monsoon. It mentioned at least four optional dates, of which two have passed.

The alert has prompted Mumbai police to immediately step up vigil at likely targets. Maharashtra minister of state for home Naseem Khan said on Wednesday that security has been increased at railway stations and major financial institutions. Church Gate, Dadar, Andheri and a few railway stations on the central railway's harbour line in Navi Mumbai had also been put on high alert.

The terrorists, IB has warned, may come in through the sea, yet again, braving adverse weather and stormy seas.

The July 8 alert ��� which has the photos of the seven targets attached ��� followed the recovery of these very photographs from a terror suspect detained recently in Jammu and Kashmir. The photographs include that of a reputed bank in the Fort area, two railway stations in Mumbai and a railway station in Navi Mumbai.

The seriousness of the terror threat can be gauged from that fact that over 70 lakh people travel by the Mumbai local trains every day. This is the second alert in two weeks by central intelligence agencies.

The first was issued on June 24 ��� it said a 26/11-like terror strike could be repeated again via the sea route by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The alert put all security agencies in Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra on high alert and prompted a review of security. It said Indian associates of LeT were preparing for the attack with the help of their Pak-based mentors and had already instructed its Indian handlers to set up a base in Kutch.