New Delhi, June 11: Following a red alert sounded by the Centre, banks and financial institutions are beefing up security in the commercial capital, Mumbai, on information that hard core jehadis including al Qaeda and Taliban are planning terrorist strikes on banking institutions. Reserve Bank reviewed the security situation in banks and FIs after a secret message was sent by banking division here to Indian Banks' Association, RBI and market regulator SEBI.
RBI deputy governor Vepa Kamesam, who held the meeting yesterday, asked chief executive officers of banks and FIs to put in place contingency plans for tightening security, a RBI press release said.

Though banking division joint secretary Sekhar Agarwal, was tightlipped over the secret message, banking industry sources said there were reports that terrorist strikes were being planned against banks and FIs in Mumbai in the next eight to ten days.
The review meeting was held after the centre issued instruction asking banks and FIs to step up security besides making it foolproof, especially around head offices. Bureau Report