In Karnataka, Cong wary after Modi campaign

BENGALURU: Gujarat CM Narendra Modi may have sought to infuse some life into BJP with his Sunday campaign in Basavangudi neighbourhood and with his promise to return on May 2 when he goes to north Karnataka. For Congress, campaign by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Union ministers and local film stars should keep the buoyancy up.

SONAULI (MAHARAJGANJ): The arrest of terror suspect Syed Liaquat Ali Shah earlier in the year has served as a warning to militants looking to enter India by surrendering on the border with Nepal, border security agencies believe.

A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) officer — part of the force guarding the international border with Nepal — said militants were now planning to take advantage of the porous border.

The SSB has intensified its vigil in the area, particularly after Liaquat was held.

On Sunday, a National Intelligence Agency (NIA) team visited Sonauli with Liaquat and met SSB officers. SSB commandant KS Mankoti said NIA officers enquired about the surrender of Kashmiri militants at the Sonauli post.

Security forces believe a large number of militants are camping out in Nepal, waiting to cross the border. “We have alerted the Nepal security agency (Seema Prahari) and in a border meeting held a week back, we urged them to give us information about their activity,” said the SSB officer. A police officer said around 200 militants crossed into India under the J&K government’s rehabilitation policy. They were handed to the J&K police by the SSB.