The police, along with forest officials, have spearheaded a door-to-door drive to tell the villagers to remain alert and inform the authorities of any suspicious movement.

The sprawling sanctuary is spread over 12sq km and a 24-hour nakabandi is being implemented in the area as a precautionary measure to thwart the movement of terrorists in the dense forest.

Senior inspector of Panvel rural police, MalojiShinde, said, "We have deployed an officer and four constables to man the sanctuary area following the search operation by city police in Uran for suspected terrorists."

Speaking to TOI, SampatPawar, forest officer (Wildlife), said, "Patrolling schedule of the forest guards have also been reviewed."

There is only one entry or exit point from the Mumbai-Goa highway, but there are several porous points across the sanctuary from where people can slip into the forest.