Security tightened at Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati after rebel threat

Security has been strengthened at the famous Shakti Shrine Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati after a rebel threat.

Guwahati, Dec 26 : Security has been strengthened at the famous Shakti Shrine Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati after a rebel threat.

The alert comes over a week after a suspected Pakistani secret agency ISI's operative Mojibullah Alam alias Asfi Alam was nabbed in Guwahati, where the temple is located.

Declining to comment on the authenticity of newspaper reports of an al-Qaeda threat to the temple, the police said they are nevertheless taking precautions.

"I would not like to comment anything on the authenticity of the reports. We have got reports (of threats to the temple) and we have received such reports before. There is no need to comment on the authenticity of these reports but it is important we take enough precautions to avert any danger and we are doing it," said P. Hazela, Deputy Commissioner of Kamrup district.

The temple dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya who represents female fertility, receives devotees from across the country.

A number of separatist outfits including the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are active in the state.

The ULFA says it is fighting for Assam's independence, which is rich in oil, natural gas and tea. It accuses Centre of taking away its mineral and forest resources while neglecting the local population.

Assam is one of seven states in northeast, a region racked by a number of insurgencies. More than 15,000 people have been killed since ULFA launched the revolt in 1979 in Assam.

ANI