Increased threat perception for BRICS due to surgical strikes: Official

Threat perception for the BRICS summit in Goa has increased, due to last week's surgical strikes by the Indian Army in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir, a senior Goa Police officer said on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Police Headquarters in Panaji, Deputy Inspector General of Police V. Gupta also said that the venue for the BRICS summit would be designated a no-fly zone for the duration of the event and flying of drones during the October 15-16 event would be banned.

"After the surgical strikes, intelligence agencies are looking at a possible strike-back in any way. Terrorists could be planning, because after the surgical strikes this is the first major international level event, which is being held in Goa. Threat perception scale has increased. Keeping that in mind, we are prepared," Gupta said.

Around 11 heads of state or government are expected to participate in the event.

The official also said that on a request made by the Goa Police, Intelligence Bureau officials had given a slide show presentation to state police officials about known terrorists.

"IB had been requested so they came with their teams. They have shared a list of known terrorists with our staff, showed us slides of wanted terrorists, in case any one should attempt to sneak in," Gupta also said.

The official said that Goa Police officials and personnel had been undergoing a varied range of security drills over the last one month and that a special team had been sent to Delhi, to learn advanced security drills from the police in the national capital.

"We are prepared for multiple contingencies, fires, shoot-outs, bomb explosion... We have done drill and rehearsals. The training programme has been going on for one month... We have also sent a special team to learn security drill, special security from the Delhi Police."

--IANS

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