Higher compensation for Pune attack victims: Chavan

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday announced a hike in the compensation amount for the kin of those dead in the Pune terror attack.

"The next of kin of the dead would be entitled to Rs 500,000 and the treatment expenses of all the injured will be borne by the government," Chavan said.

Chavan had Saturday night announced a compensation of Rs 100,000 for the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 for those injured.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Mumbai and other parts of the state in the wake of the Pune terror attack.

"Security has been tightened at all important installations, including the airport, railway stations and other places in Mumbai," said Chavan.

The leave of all policemen across the state have been cancelled following the attack which left nine dead, including one foreigner, and 57 injured.

A team of the elite security outfit Force One left from Mumbai Saturday night to assist the Mumbai and Pune Anti-Terrorist Squads, National Investigation Agency (NIA), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and National Security Guard (NSG) teams.

A team of experts from the Pune cantonment of the Southern Army command has also reached the site of the blast, the first major terror blast in the country after November 26, 2008.

In Mumbai, security was tightened at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the Mumbai Port, the BARC, BSE, important railway terminals and stations, luxury hotels, important government buildings, VVIP areas of south Mumbai, and the beaches dotting the city, among others.

Elsewhere in Maharashtra, security has been beefed up at the Sai Baba Temple in Shirdi, the Pandharpur Temple and other major places of historic, religious and tourism significance.