Security beefed up in India's schools after Peshawar attack (Roundup)

Security was beefed up Wednesday in schools across India, especially in the national capital, and in shopping malls and other crowded places, a day after a terror attack in a school in Pakistan's Peshawar city left at least 148 people, mostly children, dead.

The central government issued an advisory late Tuesday night asking states to beef up security, especially at educational institutions, following the terror attack, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said Wednesday.

"I just want to say that all state governments have been issued an advisory by the home ministry," he told reporters outside parliament on being asked whether steps have been taken by the government to secure educational institutions.

Following the advisory, security in schools was beefed up in many states in India.

Police armed with automatic weapons were deployed at schools and the school administrations were instructed on how to protect children in case of an attack.

Some schools also held security drills to create awareness among the students.

The advisory said that in view of the terror attack on the Pakistani school, and a terror incident in Sydney and "heightened possibility of a terrorist attack" in India in the light of the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama, all states and other authorities concerned have been told to remain alert.

"The law enforcement agencies should take all measures towards target hardening of vulnerable places and installations. This includes public places with high footfall, public transport, including railways, and schools in particular," the advisory said.

It also alerted against the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the Islamic State (IS).

"The terror threat can emanate from members of SIMI who had escaped from Khandawa, agents of IM based in Pakistan, and LeT. In addition, lone wolf attacks by radicalised IS sympathisers are also a possibility," it added.

"Such attacks can only be prevented if central and state agencies mobilise all resources and assets at their disposal and focus on collecting actionable intelligence," the advisory added.

It also referred to Obama's visit Jan 25-26 during the Republic Day celebrations.

In the light of the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, the advisory said: "There appears to be an immediate requirement to scale up security around schools and other educational institutions which are considered more valuable due to a variety of factors."

It said "mock drills" should be carried out in vulnerable locations.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi said the force was "already on high alert in the wake of terrorist threat".

"We have strengthened our security apparatus. Security has been increased in all the Delhi schools and colleges," he said.

"Delhi schools are safe and secure and we are prepared to meet any threat. We are doing our best to ensure safety in schools. We have identified the vulnerable zones and keeping close vigil in these areas. We have deployed police personnel in the schools," Bassi said.

A drill was conducted at Modern School in central Delhi, where police increased security.

Security in the school was tight and the guards frisked everyone, excluding the students and staff.

A gun-toting policeman was deployed outside the school's main gate. The watchmen at the entrance only opened the gate after getting confirmation from the principal or school staff.

A student, Garima, said: "Our principal and teachers advised us to be careful. They asked us to immediately inform the authorities or guards if we see any suspicious activity."

School security guard Kamlesh Chandra said they were maintaining a visitors' register and noting down names of every person entering the school.