LTTE men may have slipped into India

NEW DELHI: As many as 300-400 LTTE militants may have infiltrated into India in the guise of refugees fleeing Sri Lanka, intelligence agencies have warned. Sources said intelligence agencies had received reports that lower level LTTE cadres may have come in and could be among those currently being held in high security camps for screening.

Coastal states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have been on high alert for some time now following the Sri Lankan military action against LTTE that had thousands of Tamil civilians fleeing the war zone.

Home ministry sources said they had received reports of LTTE cadres making their way into the refugee camps. "All refugees are being screened and we are keeping any suspicious people in high security camps. The rest are being sent to open camps," a senior ministry official said.

Sources said Indian authorities could not let their guard down with some senior LTTE leaders missing. "While most of the top leadership has been destroyed, whereabouts of certain key LTTE leaders like Pottu Amman is still not known. We have asked the state government to remain alert," a source said.

Officials admitted that the volatile situation in Sri Lanka was a security threat to India. In fact, intelligence agencies had advised Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul not to travel to Tamil Nadu following an enhanced threat perception. Former PM Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated by the LTTE.

Besides the rigorous screening process, authorities have also sent two expert teams to de-mine regions which are free of LTTE-control, along with a team of doctors and relief worth Rs 100 crore.

Meanwhile, the Navy, Coast Guard and troops in the Southern Command are on alert to prevent LTTE elements from entering Indian territory.