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Monday, Oct 17, 2005

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National

"Forces foil infiltration bid"

Special Correspondent

Some of them wanted to exploit the situation arising from the earthquake: Pranab Mukherjee

Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: Militants may try to take advantage of the quake relief operations along the Line of Control (LoC) but the security forces were vigilant and alert to foil any such attempts, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here on Sunday.

"Militants have made about five infiltration attempts since the October 8 earthquake, including two on a single day. About 25-29 of them have been killed. Some of them wanted to take advantage of the disturbed situation but our forces were alert," he told reporters here on the sidelines of a defence seminar.

"We are alert. It should not pose any serious threat," he said, adding "the security forces deployed along the LoC were vigilant" and their involvement in the relief and rescue operations were in addition to their normal duty. Mr. Mukherjee was responding to questions on whether the engagement of the armed forces in the relief operations was helping the infiltrators.

However, he did not rule out the possibility of "some attempts" by militants to infiltrate in view of involvement of several civilians in the relief and rescue operations along the LoC. "Civilians may be used as cover. Some militants may try to take advantage of the situation. Alertness and vigilance will have to be maintained," he said.

Mr. Mukherjee said some high passes were closed due to snowfall but the next five to seven days were crucial after which infiltration would not be possible. The Government had also received reports of militant capability being affected by the quake but they were yet to be fully confirmed, he said.

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