From correspondents in Tamil Nadu, India, 12:00 AM IST

Tough action was being initiated against those who were causing a fear psychosis in Chennai by spreading rumours of a terror threat to the metropolis, police said late Sunday.

'These vicious mischief mongers are obviously suggesting that after Bangalore and Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata (forming acronym BACK) are the next targets of terrorists. We have put out bulletins to tell the public that this is a baseless rumour,' police commissioner R. Sekar told IANS Sunday night.

Bangalore was targeted with eight bomb blasts Friday, killing one woman, while Ahmedabad was rocked the next day with 20 blasts killing at least 45 people.

Roads were deserted all over Tamil Nadu for the second half of Sunday following rumours on the one hand and incessant rains in several parts on the other.

Repeated electricity outages also worsened the situation.

Police, however, intensified patrols and pickets at all vulnerable areas that included temples, mosques, rail, bus and air terminals besides the IT corridor in the southern outskirts of here.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)