Lanka blasts: Tight security for Velankanni Church

Tight security cover has been provided to the Shrine Basilica at Velankanni and the ancient Danish Fort in Nagapattinam district in the wake of the serial bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, police said Monday.

Security has been strengthened in all the 53 coastal hamlets in the district,Superintendent of Police C Vijayakumar told reporters here.

District police, coast guard, coastal security group and forest department personnel have commenced patrolling in coastal areas, the official said.

The SP said a 'three-tier' security cover has been provided to the Shrine Basilica and the Dansborg Fort at Tarangambadi.

"Armed police personnel are on duty at these places. Pilgrims entering the Velankanni church are being thoroughly scanned with bomb detectors," he said.

A 24-hour vigil is being maintained in all coastal hamlets, according to him.

"Thorough vehicle checking is being conducted through the 19 checkposts in the district. In addition, people of the coastal areas have been requested to pass on information about the movement of strangers," he said.

As the Dansborg Fort, built by the Danes at Tarangambadi in 1620 AD, is located right at the seafront, the Coast Guard was patrolling the area, the SP added.

Police said security has been stepped up in the temple town of Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district.

Seven suicide bombers believed to be members of an Islamist extremist group carried out a series of blasts that tore through churches and luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing 290 people in the country's worst terror attack, authorities said Monday.