Govt tightens security for 10 scientists facing terror threat

Security around 10 scientists working in sensitive areas has been tightened in the wake of threats from Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashker-e-Tayiba (LeT).

The scientists who have not been identified are working in crucial areas of nuclear, defence and space fields. The names of these scientists was mentioned by Sarfaraz Nawaz, who was deported from Muscat, during interrogation and which were further corroborated by T Nazir, LeT's pointsman in South India.

Sources said on Sunday that following corroboration of the threats, a security review was carried out after which it was decided to enhance the security of the scientists as a precautionary measures.

While Nawaz (33) was deported and brought back by security agencies from Muscat, Nazir was arrested along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Northeast recently. Both of them had  played a key role in Bangalore blasts.

Nazir allegedly had a direct hand in executing the Bangalore blasts in 2008 and is accused of having supplied electronic components used by Indian Mujahideen to fabricate improvised explosive devices used in other strikes.

Based on the information from the interrogation of US terror suspect David C Headley and his accomplice Tahawwur Rana, whose roles are being probed by the security agencies, security around Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and some Bollywood studios in Mumbai have been already tightened.

The government is also taking slew of measures to strengthen security along the country's coastline amid warning of possible sea-borne attacks.

The measures are taken up in the wake of inputs that 49-year-old Headley, who has been under arrest in the US since October three, had travelled to Chembur and Trombay many a times and filmed the exits and entrances of the BARC besides entry of employees, they said.

Lashkar trained the terror suspect in clandestine filming of vital installations.

Headley is also alleged to be present in a control unit in Pakistan along with the masterminds of the attacks to guide the 10 Lashker-e-Tayiba terrorists to carry out strikes in Mumbai during the 26/11 attacks.

Security agencies are now trying to piece together different clues and information shared by FBI team from Headley's interrogation.