Terror alert in Delhi, Kanpur, Indore

In the wake of the Pune blast, an alert was today sounded in three cities, including the national capital, to tighten security following intelligence inputs that terrorists may target public places there.

The alert was issued after a high-level meeting, chaired by home minister P Chidambaram, reviewed the security situation across the country following the bomb blast in Pune blast which has so far claimed nine lives.

After the meeting, Chidambaram met prime minister Manmohan Singh and briefed him about the developments in the light of the Pune blast.

"We have intelligence inputs that terrorists may target Delhi, Kanpur and Indore. We have shared the information with all concerned and asked the state governments to take necessary action," a senior home ministry official said.

A three-day BJP national executive is scheduled to be held in Indore from February 17.

A general advisory has also been sent to all states asking them to take necessary security steps in crowded localities, railway stations, bus terminals and other public places.

Officials said RDX and ammonium nitrate were used in the Pune explosion and forensic experts were examining the blast site for clues.

Besides Chidambaram, the meeting was attended among others by national security adviser, Shiv Shanker Menon, home secretary GK Pillai, IB and RAW chiefs Rajeev Mathur and KC Verma respectively and other senior officials.

"The investigation has been started by the Maharashtra ATS assisted by forensic experts and they are looking into all possible angles," the home ministry official said.    

The probe agencies were also examining whether any foreigner was involved in the blast.

"We are not ruling out anything and the probe covers all terrorist groups and suspected persons," the official said.

Investigators were also examining the CCTV footage of a five-star hotel located just opposite the Pune blast site though nothing suspicious has been found so far.

"Unfortunately, the German Bakery (where the blast took place) had no CCTV cameras," he said. 

The security agencies were also taking seriously Jamaat-ul-Dawah deputy Abdul Rehman Makki's statement in Muzafarabad that they would be carrying out more and more
attacks in India.