Goa Police dismiss reports of terror threat during IFFI

Panaji, Nov 19 (IANS) Goa Police Thursday dismissed media reports about a possible terror threat to the forthcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which gets underway here Nov 23.

Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande said the state police had received no such terror-related input from the intelligence agencies.

'We are not in the receipt of any such input as of now. These reports could be based on rumours,' Deshpande said.

Earlier in the day, television media reports said that the union minister of home affairs had issued a maximum alert for the forthcoming 40th edition of the IFFI, a 14-day festival held in Panaji.

The television news report said that IFFI was the target of a terror threat from Mangalore-based terror modules run by the Lashkar-e-Taiba.

British actor Ben Kingsley will be a guest of honour at the film festival.

The Goa police are also caught in a tizzy with President Pratibha Patil scheduled to visit the state for a convocation ceremony at the Goa University premises later this week.

Deshpande said that nearly 400 additional paramilitary troopers had been sourced from the central government to gear up for the two high profile events and month of December which sees a frenzy of tourists.

He said the police were geared up for sea borne terror threats with the Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) pitching in.

'The deep sea patrolling is handled by the IN and the ICG. Peripheral waters will be patrolled by the Goa Police Marine Force,' he said.