Terror alert: 4 NSG teams in Gujarat, one to guard Somnath temple

Four National Security Guard teams have been roped in to beef up security at vital installations, including Somnath temple, in Gujarat where alert has been sounded ahead of 'Maha Shivratri' festival tomorrow.

Gujarat DGP P C Thakur held a meeting with NSG officials in Gandhinagar today and announced that one team will be sent to step up security at Somnath temple in Gir-Somnath district.

"Four teams of NSG reached here last night. Out of these, three will remain here, while one team will go to Somnath, which is one of the most important pilgrimage places in Gujarat," he said.

According to the DGP, there are three major pilgrimage spots in the state which attract maximum number of devotees on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, to be celebrated tomorrow.

"Whatever information about terror strike is received by us is authentic and verified. There are three main pilgrimage places in Gujarat, including Somnath, Nageshwar Jyotirling in Dwarka and Bhavnath in Junagadh. We have already asked local police to beef security at these places," he said.

Thakur said the state police is leaving no stone unturned to protect the people and foil any attempt by terrorists.

"Looking at the Maha Shivratri celebrations, which attract lakhs of people at these places, we have started combing operations, setting up check-posts and intense searches for any suspects. Large number of policemen and SRP have been deployed at these temples," he said.

Gujarat was today on high alert following intelligence inputs that terrorists have sneaked into the state.