Kochi: The police have beefed up the security in Kochi city in the wake of the blast on the premises of a court in Mysore. City Police Commissioner M.P. Dinesh issued a directive to tighten the security soon after the blast on Monday. An improvised explosive device packed in a three-litre pressure cooker had exploded in the toilet of the district court complex in Mysore on Monday.

“We have decided to be more alert in the wake of the blast and other incidents. It is better to be cautious and take effective steps to counter any kind of untoward incidents.” Mr Dinesh said.

The commissioner asked the bomb squad to monitor the situation and patrol in the city. In the last two days, police on motorcycles and in patrol vehicles mounted with cameras have been roaming the city round-the-clock.

According to top sources, the cops are not ruling out threats from extremists in the city. The recent incidents of Keralites joining the Islamic State have also put the state on alert. Recently, an IED blast had occurred in the Kollam court complex and a Special Investigation Team was formed to investigate the incident.

Security at the north and south railway stations was also tightened. “We have received an alert. We are conducting inspections at the two railway stations after the alert,” the CI of the Government Railway Police, Ernakulam, said.