India’s Home Ministry has issued a nationwide alert after receiving intelligence of possible terrorist attacks by the Pakistan-based Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba over the New Year weekend, an official said Tuesday.

India increased security in major cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Bangalore — and the tourist destination Goa, and sent advisories to several state governments, including Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.

Police have launched house-to-house searches in some areas of Mumbai, where more than 166 people were killed in November 2008 in a three-day attack by suspected members of Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Additional personnel have been deployed in markets, religious sites, and bus and railway stations.