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After the serial blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, the shadow of terror seems to have affected normal life in many states.

While cinema hall owners have been asked to cancel night shows in Madhya Pradesh, primary schools have been asked to shut in Surat, Gujarat where two explosive-laden cars were found on Sunday. Tamil Nadu has been put on alert after a man was arrested for allegedly planning an attack on August 15.

Madhya Pradesh: Night shows cancelled in Indore

The state government has directed cinemas to cancel all screenings post 9 pm. Security has been heightened in public places like cinema halls, places of worship, railway stations.

"We have decided to suspend night shows in all cinema halls of the state capital as a precautionary measure. Relaxation in exhibiting night shows may be provided after reviewing the situation in a day or two," Bhopal District Collector Manish Rastogi was quoted as saying by IANS.

The state is known to be a stronghold of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Top leaders of the outfit, including its chief Safdar Nagori, were arrested in the state a few months ago.

Vehicles were being checked at many points across the city, according to a police official. "Cops in the state, mainly in the Malwa region which includes Indore and Ujjain, are also looking for the probable SIMI links," he said.

Directives have been issued to all districts' police heads and railway police officials to heighten security cover in their jurisdiction, he added.

The officials have also been directed to keep the anti-bomb disposal squads, sniffer dog squads and the Rapid Action Force ready to be deployed quickly in case of any eventuality.

The DGP said the police have strengthened their deployment in and around Raja Bhoj airport here, as well as at airports in Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Khajuraho.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Saturday night called an emergency meeting and directed the police to maintain high vigil at all important establishments and intensify checking at all sensitive places in the state.

Senior police and civil officers attended the meeting.

Andhra Pradesh on alert before Bonalu

Hyderabad is taking no chances ahead of the Bonalu festival on Sunday and Monday. A 400-strong police force has been deployed for the festival procession.

Twenty other platoons have been called in from other parts of the state. Ex-army personnel have also been roped in and police are advising the public to report anything suspicious.

Mumbai, Delhi turn fortresses

In Mumbai, security was increased at many places like Mahim Dargah and Siddhivinayak temple. Police have increased patrolling in crowded public places and the anti-terrorist squad is on high alert.

In the national capital, an alert was sounded soon after the blasts in Bangalore on Friday. The police commissioner called an emergency meeting on Sunday and security is being increased in crowded places like railway and metro stations, airports and markets.

Thirty additional companies of security personnel have been deployed.

Bomb threat to Kanpur mall

The police on Sunday received a terror threat to blow up a mall in the Uttar Pradesh city.

"The threatening call was made today (Sunday) to a doctor, Govind Singh, who later informed us about it. The caller threatened to blow up the Mega Mall on the Mall road in Kanpur," said Kanpur Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh.

The call was made from Orai town in Jalaun district of the state, the police added.

Kerala streets deserted post threat

Streets remained deserted on Sunday evening following media reports that the Karnataka police have received an email that Kerala could be the next terror target.

With the media going to town saying that a TV 9 channel reporter in Bangalore had received a telephone call that bombs would go off in Kerala Sunday 7 p.m., the top brass of the Kerala Police went into a huddle and gave orders for strict combing operations.

Director General of Police (DGP) Raman Srivatsava after the meeting of top police officials told reporters that the police are fully geared to meet any situation.

"There is no panic situation and we are doing our duty. High alert will be maintained across the state for the next three days," said the police chief.

Meanwhile, the police have advised people not to go for night shows of movies in cities like Kochi, Thrissur and Kozhikode.

Security has also been beefed up at temples like Sabarimala and the Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor.

The police are keeping a close watch at all public places, especially railway and bus stations, and have begun checking vehicles at border check posts.

Since the Friday bomb blasts in Bangalore, the state police have been conducting inspections at hotels and lodges and have asked them to inform the police of the nature of the guests who come to take rooms.

Tamil Nadu: Action against rumour mongers

Tough action was being initiated against those who were causing a fear psychosis in Chennai by spreading rumours of a terror threat to the metropolis, police said on Sunday.

"These vicious mischief mongers are obviously suggesting that after Bangalore and Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata (forming acronym BACK) are the next targets of terrorists. We have put out bulletins to tell the public that this is a baseless rumour," police commissioner R Sekar said on Sunday night.

Roads were deserted all over Tamil Nadu for the second half of Sunday following rumours on the one hand and incessant rains in several parts on the other.

Repeated electricity outages also worsened the situation.

Police, however, intensified patrols and pickets at all vulnerable areas that included temples, mosques, rail, bus and air terminals besides the IT corridor in the southern outskirts of here.

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