Bhubaneswar, Jan. 22: Coastal security has been beefed up following an Intelligence Bureau (IB) alert on a possible terror attack by Pakistan-based groups in four states, including Odisha.

The other states on the terrorists' radar are Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Odisha has some vital defence installations and the much-venerated 12th century temple located along its coast.

The bureau has said that Pakistan-based Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have despatched four teams to the country and they could strike before January 28. 'The director-general of police (DGP) and the director (intelligence) have been briefed about the inputs. All the 30 district police superintendents have been asked to keep a tight vigil on all the important installations,' special secretary (home) Lalit Das told reporters here.

DGP Sanjeev Marik said: 'There are some uncorroborated reports from the central agency about a possible attack. We have alerted all the police superintendents. But in a few districts, they have been asked to be more vigilant.'

The officer said the attack might not be a big one, but the threat was definitely there.

The inputs from the bureau assume significance with two members of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), an LeT wing, having come to Bhubaneswar a year ago and staying in a hotel at Master Canteen Square.

Bhubaneswar-Cuttack police commissioner R.P. Sharma said: 'The IM chief and a Pakistani national had visited Bhubaneswar, Puri and Cuttack. We had interrogated them, but their specific purpose of visit was unclear.'

The IM operatives, Tehsin Akhtar and Waqas, toured the three cities between the first and third week of January last year. Delhi police had arrested them last March.

Sharma said the intelligence gathering would be strengthened and intense checking would be carried out in hotels to find out the dubious elements.

The state government has asked all the 18 marine police stations to stay alert. The police superintendents of coastal districts have started holding meetings with the Coast Guard on how to keep tabs on the movement of suspicious elements.

Eastern range DIG Asit Panigrahi said: 'Besides key defence installations such as the interim test range at Chandipur and Wheeler Island, Dhamra Port is also in our area. We are keeping a keen watch over these places.'

On the other hand, Puri district police have intensified its security around the Jagannath temple and the beach. Puri SP Ashish Singh said: 'We have geared up our intelligence gathering. Besides the temple, we are keeping a close watch on the beach.'

Biju Patnaik International Airport authorities have also beefed up security. Airport director Sharad Kumar said: 'We have a standard operating procedure. We always follow it. The airport is the safest place and no one should panic. But, the passengers should come at least 15 to 20 minutes earlier than the normal reporting time.'

Man detained

The security agencies have detained a contractual employee of the integrated test range, Chandipur, for suspicious activities. The person detained, Iswar Behera, 32, is a resident of Baisinga in Mayurbhanj district.