Silliguri, Sept 23 : Security has been beefed up on the border areas of Siliguri in West Bengal for Durga Puja.

The Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the Border Security Forces (BSF) have been put on high alert and police patrolling has been increased.

"There is a general threat that terrorists from across the border might come and attack us. For that we have alerted the BSF there and requested them to seal the border. We have also asked the local police stations along the border to have patrolling done and seal the area," said Kunda Lal Tamta, inspector-general of police, North Bengal.

Paramilitary forces are on a vigil in areas bordering with Bangladesh and Nepal.

Certain stretches on the border have been sealed and vehicles entering India are being checked.

State police have also increased their patrolling in major towns of the north Bengal plains and checking vehicles coming from Assam.

Apart from that, security in public places has also been increased for the ongoing festival. Puja pandals are being sanitised by police dog squads.

"There are 75 big pujas in Siliguri and other areas. For big puja, we have made crowd management programmes. We have 35 police assistance booths. The pandal will be sanitised every day," said Tamta.

Anti Sabotage Wings of police are checking the movement of people in public places, including puja pandals and bus/railway stations in major towns of the region.

The security has also been increased to avert any possible attack from militant insurgent groups like the United Liberation Front of Assam and the Kamtapur Liberation Organisation. (ANI)