Thursday, July 27 2006 16:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Amid concern voiced by members over reports of militants infiltrating the armed forces, Government today said in the Lok Sabha that three Army jawans have been arrested in connection with links with terror outift Lashkar-e-Toiba.

As per preliminary information available, Lance Naik Mohammed, Lance Naik Shakil Iqbal and Abdul Haq of the J and K Light infantry were arrested sometime in June, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

He said the action was taken following investigations after two overground terrorists were arrested in the state and they named a J and K constable who was also detained.

Amid protests from the Opposition, Mukherjee said Home Minister Shivraj Patil's statement in the Rajya Sabha that the three were not armymen and belogned to the India Reserve Battalion was factually not wrong and the Home Minister has "not misled" Parliament.

He said this was because the three armymen were currently in para-military forces including two in Rashtriya Rifles.

Opposition members, however, accused the government of misleading Parliament on the sensitive issue and staged a noisy walkout.

Earlier, raising the issue during Zero Hour, BJP's Deputy leader V K Malhotra said it was a matter of concern that the National Security Advisor M K Narayanan had warned of LeT infiltration in the armed forces. Reoti Raman Singh (SP) also drew government's attention to the issue.