NEW DELHI, Nov 22: Terrorist threats to India's infrastructure, including its atomic plants, have increased in the wake of a civilian nuclear energy deal with the United States, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said on Wednesday.

Mr Patil, who was addressing senior police and intelligence officers at a three-day conference here, urged them not to lower their guard and to squarely meet the challenges posed by terrorism.

“Our critical infrastructure faces a serious threat from terrorists,” he said.

“In view of the recent Indo-US Agreement on Civil Nuclear Energy Cooperation, our atomic power plants have become highly vulnerable.

“Installations of the oil and natural gas sector, defence, communications and information technology sectors are equally vulnerable,” he said, adding that intelligence reports suggested terrorist threats to ports.

A home ministry spokesman said oil and atomic installations were symbolic of the strides India had made in the fields of economics and science.

“The deal with the US is also an achievement in the field of nuclear energy. Therefore, the minister was telling the officials to be vigilant to thwart militant attacks against these symbols of India's rising profile in the world,” he said.—AFP