New Delhi: In a sensational peep into intelligence on the terror threat to India's critical infrastructure, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil yesterday (Nov  22,2006)  disclosed that Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives were being trained specifically to sabotage oil installations and that the country's atomic power plants, defence, communications and IT sectors had also become 'highly vulnerable'.

"Our coastal areas are coming under increased threat from terrorist groups as the LeT has reportedly decided to use the sea route to infiltrate into India," Patil said while inaugurating a three-day conference of the country's top police brass.

"Simultaneously, we understand they have been collecting information regarding the location of various refineries on or near the Indian coastline," he said. "Some LeT operatives are also being trained specifically for sabotage of oil installations.

"There are plans to occupy some uninhabited islands and use them as bases for launching operations on the Indian coast," Patil said.

"Likewise, our critical infrastructure faces a serious threat from terrorists. In view of the recent Indo-US agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation, our atomic power plants have become highly vulnerable. Similarly, installations of the oil and natural gas sector, defence, communications and IT sector are equally vulnerable," he said.

He refrained from directly naming Pakistan and its ISI but clearly indicated that they were behind terrorist operations aimed against India.