Jammu: The Border Security Force (BSF) has intercepted messages from commanders of banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) asking its cadres to carry out suicide attacks in Jammu ahead of Republic Day, top intelligence sources said in Jammu.

As per the intelligence inputs, 9 to 12 militants of 'fidayeen (suicide) squads have entered Jammu, the winter capital of the State, during the past fortnight and most of them belong to JeM and Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

"The banned Azhar Masood led-JeM outfit, which was involved in the suicide attack on Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, has directed its suicide squad to resort to terror attacks in Jammu after the failure of the railway station attack on January 2," the sources told reporters.

The JeM's plans were revealed by the intercept between Deputy Chief of the JeM in Kashmir Valley and another commander in Pir Panchal sector, which was recorded by the BSF in Srinagar on January 7, sources said.

Following the threats, security has been upgraded at 21 sensitive installations including VVIP residences and offices, Army camps, migrant shelters, railway stations and airport, which could be targeted by the militants.

Searches are being conducted in several walled places in Jammu city to track down militants hiding in the city, where all underground manholes and drainage system has been sanitised after thorough checkups with sniffer dogs.

Special security towers are being set up at all market place and congested places in the city and area domination around hill tops is being done in order to foil any type of attack by militants, they said.