Yemen, Algeria, reports may prompt Centre to issue Goa terror alert

The Centre is considering issuing a New Year terror alert to Goa. This comes after Indian missions in West Asia and North Africa reported that intelligence inputs warning of a terror strike in Goa tallied with information obtained from interrogation of members of Islamic militant groups arrested in these regions.

The Centre is considering issuing a New Year terror alert to Goa. This comes after Indian missions in West Asia and North Africa reported that intelligence inputs warning of a terror strike in Goa tallied with information obtained from interrogation of members of Islamic militant groups arrested in these regions.

The Centre is now mulling directions to the state government seeking all steps to keep the tourist destination — particularly beaches and night clubs — secure during festivities leading up to and including New Year’s Day.

Sources said Indian missions in Yemen, Algeria and Saudi Arabia had been asked to follow up intelligence inputs after Israel’s advisory on Goa earlier this month. These inputs were based on information after the arrest of Yemenese and Algerian militants in Jeddah, which showed that militant groups had done a recce of popular spots in Goa.

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A laptop with them had detailed plans of a possible militant strike, intelligence sources said. It is learnt that the Indian mission had checked with the countries and gone through interrogation reports of the arrested militants for corroboration. Sources said some of the information tallied and this was cause for concern.

Officially, the threat is being downplayed. Goa Director General of Police B S Brar told The Indian Express: “Goa is safe, there is no threat.” Among the measures the state police has put in place are patrol parties along the beaches and other popular tourist spots in Goa, Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), checkposts at entry points from neighbouring states and commandos in vans across the city.

On December 13, Israel had issued an alert, saying a “concrete threat” existed for Goa during late December and over the New Year in light of terrorist threats by Al-Qaeda. Israeli nationals were advised to avoid staying in Goa during this period.