India increases security to prevent Tiger infiltration

The Indian Army yesterday ruled out any specific threat from outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) but said that the Security Forces have beefed up vigil to prevent infiltration of the Tigers in the country’s Southern States from neighbouring Sri Lanka.

“While the Indian Navy and Coast Guard are engaged in patrolling of the country’s Southern coast, the Army has also strengthened off-coast patrolling, “ Lt Gen Noble Thamburaj, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command of the Indian Army, told reporters in the Southern Indian state of Chennai, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

Gen Thamburaj, however, said there was no specific threat from the LTTE. “The influx of refugees to Southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has increased which is being monitored round-the-clock,” he said.

“The Indian Army also has a big role to play in the country’s internal security,” he added. “In an age of non-conventional warfare, where sleeper agents and mafia move among the people, there should be a multi-pronged approach among the intelligence agencies, local police and the Army to thwart any terror attempts by the organisations,” Gen Thamburaj stressed.

“The Indian Army is preparing itself to meet the future challenges,” he added. Recently the Chennai Police arrested five persons including a Sea Tiger who had clandestinely purchased a boat and computer spare parts to be shipped to Sri Lanka.