Mumbai, Apr 15 (IANS): Women suicide squads are being trained and readied to carry out terror attacks in Mumbai, Pune and other major cities in the state, Home Minister R.R. Patil told the Maharashtra legislative assembly here Monday.

Quoting a central intelligence alert received Jan 12, Patil said there was a possibility of terror attacks by women squads trained in Pakistan, with Mumbai and Pune being on the hit-list.

The minister said this in a written reply to legislators Yogesh Sagar and Gopal Shetty who raised the question about the central intelligence inputs and the counter-measures taken by the state government in this regard.

Patil said that soon after the intelligence input was received, Mumbai Police, railway police, all district police chiefs and other security agencies were sent wireless message to remain on high alert.

"A standard operating procedure has also been formulated and we are taking necessary measures to avoid any untoward incidents," Patil said.

According to official sources, women suicide squads were reportedly being prepared and women were being imparted commando training in Pakistan.

Among other measures, security officials have been instructed to remain on the lookout for women wearing scarves, especially those arriving from abroad.