Special security measures are being put in place for more than 35 high-profile candidates contesting Indias elections amid intelligence reports of possible terrorist attacks. Indias federal Home Minister P Chidambaram has written letters to 40 candidates and political party leaders advising them to take special precautions and avoid sudden changes in programmes.
He had also written to state governments advising them to take special measures, Chidambaram said at a press briefing in New Delhi. The list of potential targets includes the names of Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi, her children Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Amid reports of possible terrorist threats, Chidmabaram said the government had deployed enough security forces and taken adequate measures to ensure the month-and-a half long election process was conducted peacefully.
"The security environment in South Asia has deteriorated," Chidambaram said referring to happenings in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. "We have to remain vigilant and we are vigilant," he said.
The Times of India newspaper, quoting an unnamed source, claimed that intelligence inputs suggested that a group of 20 people, including seven to eight trained pilots and at least a dozen women terrorists, had entered India to carry out attacks and hijackings.
The report said the people entering India could be Pakistani nationals and they could be planning to disrupt elections. "Our level of preparedness is much better. Intelligence is being gathered and shared on real time basis. Every bit of information is being acted on. Every step is being taken to neutralise potential threats," Chidambaram said.
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