The Kerala coast has been put on high alert following intelligence reports that boats carrying alleged Islamic State (IS) terrorists and operatives had set off for the Lakshadweep Islands of India, reports local media.
Citing intelligence sources, Indian media reported that the boats allegedly set off from Sri Lanka.
The Kerala police and coast guard have beefed up security across the coastline. Fishing vessels and other ships in the region have also been alerted about the situation, India Today reported on Sunday (May 26).
The alert was sounded by Sri Lankan authorities on May 23, the coastal police department said. It stated that boats, carrying nearly 15 IS terrorists, were moving towards Lakshadweep.
"We were on alert since the Sri Lankan attack took place. We have also alerted the fishing vessels and others venturing into the sea to be cautious of suspicious activities," India Today quoted Coastal department sources.
After the serial bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, Kerala has been on alert, especially after India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) probes revealed that IS operatives had planned attacks in the state.
Sri Lanka witnessed a deadly terror attack on Apr21, when eight blasts rocked the nation killing over 250 people.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident.
Earlier in May, the Islamic State had claimed for the first time that it had established a "province" in India, after a clash between militants and security forces in Kashmir killed a militant with alleged ties to the group.
On Friday, IS's Amaq News Agency announced the new province, which it called "Wilayah of Hind", in a statement that also claimed IS had inflicted casualties on Indian Army soldiers in the town of Amshipora in the Shopian district of Kashmir.