The state police in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have beefed up security in the coastal districts after they received an intelligence alert of a potential infiltration bid by armed men from Sri Lanka, media reports say.

The Hindu newspaper also reported that a caller from Sri Lanka also informed a police station in Madurai city that the men in possession of assault rifles were heading towards the Rameswaram coast. So far, there is no information regarding the association to which the suspected armed men belong. 

IANS reported that the alert was first issued from central agencies following which the police have stepped up vigil in the towns of Kanyakumari, Toothukudi, Rameswaram, as well as in Chennai. Armed guards have been deployed to all main roads leading to coastal areas in these districts.  

A senior police officer in Tamil Nadu, confirmed to The Hindu,  about received information related to a sinister plan of launching an attack in the state. 

Coastal security and intelligence agencies are coordinating with the state police to establish the veracity of the alert. Policemen were also making inquires with fishermen and members of the village vigilance committees in fishing hamlets to check whether they saw any strangers or came across any suspicious activity along the coastline in the last 24 hours, the report says. 

Meanwhile, the state police have also conducted random searches in some houses in coastal areas. 

(SAM)