Representational photo Reuters

The alert was sounded by Sri Lankan authorities on May 23

The Kerala coast has been put on high alert following intelligence reports that boats carrying alleged Islamic State (IS) terrorists and operatives had set off for the Lakshadweep Islands of India.

The boats allegedly set off from Sri Lanka.

The Kerala police and coast guard have beefed up security across the coastline. Fishing vessels and other ships in the region have also been alerted about the situation, reported India Today on Sunday.

The alert was sounded by Sri Lankan authorities on May 23, the coastal police department said. The alert stated that white boats carrying nearly 15 IS terrorists are moving towards Lakshadweep.

Coastal department sources said: "We were on alert since the Sri Lankan attack took place. We have also alerted the fishing vessels and others venturing into the sea to be cautious of suspicious activities."

After the serial bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, Kerala has been on alert, especially after National Investigation Agency (NIA) investigations revealed that IS operatives had planned attacks in the state.

Sri Lanka witnessed a deadly terror attack on April 21, when eight blasts rocked the nation killing over 250 people.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the incident.

Earlier in May, the Islamic State had claimed for the first time that it had established a "province" in India, after a clash between militants and security forces in Kashmir killed a militant with alleged ties to the group.

On Friday, IS's Amaq News Agency announced the new province, which it called "Wilayah of Hind", in a statement that also claimed IS had inflicted casualties on Indian Army soldiers in the town of Amshipora in the Shopian district of Kashmir.