New Delhi: Security around 10 scientists
working in sensitive areas has been tightened in the wake of
threats from Pakistan-based terror groups like
Lashker-e-Taiba(LeT).
The scientists who have not been identified are working
in crucial areas of nuclear, defence and space fields.
The names of these scientists was mentioned by Sarfaraz
Nawaz, who was deported from Muscat, during interrogation and
which were further corroborated by T Nazir, LeT's
pointsman in South India.
Sources said today that following corroboration of the
threats, a security review was carried out after which it was
decided to enhance the security of the scientists as a
precautionary measures.
While Nawaz (33) was deported and brought back by
security agencies from Muscat, Nazir was arrested along the
Indo-Bangladesh border in Northeast recently. Both of them had
played a key role in Bangalore blasts.
Nazir allegedly had a direct hand in executing the
Bangalore blasts in 2008 and is accused of having supplied
electronic components used by Indian Mujahideen to fabricate
improvised explosive devices used in other strikes.
Based on the information from the interrogation of US
terror suspect David C Headley and his accomplice
Tahawwur Rana, whose roles are being probed by the security
agencies, security around Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC)
and some Bollywood studios in Mumbai have been already
tightened.
The government is also taking slew of measures to
strengthen security along the country's coastline amid warning
of possible sea-borne attacks.
The measures are taken up in the wake of inputs that
49-year-old Headley, who has been under arrest in the US since
October three, had travelled to Chembur and Trombay many a
times and filmed the exits and entrances of the BARC besides
entry of employees, they said.
The terror suspect was trained by Lashker in clandestine
filming of vital installations.
Headley is also alleged to be present in a control unit
in Pakistan along with the masterminds of the attacks to guide
the 10 Lashker-e-Taiba terrorists to carry out strikes in
Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks.
Security agencies are now trying to piece together
different clues and information shared by FBI team from
Headley's interrogation.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, 09:34