SALEM: Security has been beefed up in all railway stations and track patrolling intensified in areas falling under the Salem Railway Division, including Coimbatore where the World Classical Tamil Conference is scheduled to begin from June 23.

This is following a threat message received by the Railway Protection Force, Salem Division here in the name of banned outfit LTTE.

Highly placed police sources told The Hindu that Inspector Ramasamy had received SMS twice in his mobile phone – one on Sunday and another the day before – threatening ‘bomb attacks’ on tracks and bridges. The messages were issued in the name of ‘Prabhakaran Brothers, LTTE.’

The official immediately informed his higher-ups and registered a case in this connection.

A special team was formed and the originating place of SMS was traced to Tirupur. The team had already left for Tirupur to nab the sender, said a senior official in Q Branch police.

Following the threats, the police in the districts of Salem, Vellore, Erode, Namakkal, Villupuram, Tirupur and Coimbatore in close coordination with Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police had undertaken extensive track patrolling round the clock between Coimbatore and Jolarpet stations since Saturday night.

Gang men and railway employees had been asked to be alert and residents residing near tracks also had been told to watch out for any suspicious movements.

Armed sentries had been posted at bridges and at vantage points.

Meanwhile, the Q branch police arrested Rajaram of Revolutionary Youth Front on Sunday for pasting posters that condemned the Tamil conference in Coimbatoreat Thevur in Sankagiri block. He was lodged in Salem Central prison. – (The Hindu)