Patna, Dec. 9: The patrolling along the India-Nepal border in the state has been intensified after 20 Al-Qaeda operatives, arrested from Kathmandu, divulged the terror outfit's plan to carry out a major operation in the country.

The intelligence agencies of Nepal shared the information with their Indian counterparts, who sounded an alert in the areas close to the porous India-Nepal border. The 20 Al-Qaeda activists, including 12 Indian nationals, were arrested two days ago.

A deputy commandant of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) - the security agency responsible for guarding the India-Nepal border - said: 'Yes, we have intensified the patrolling along the India-Nepal border in the wake of intelligence inputs. The border outposts have been put on maximum alert and the personnel have been directed to frisk the people crossing the border.'

The officials of the SSB held parleys with the district officials and chalked out strategy to check the influx of suspected terrorists from Nepal. The deputy commandant said the CCTV cameras installed at the border outposts were being closely monitored and the vehicles checked at all the entry points. 'We are on the job and hope to foil any sinister design of the Al Qaeda members,' he said.

SSB's additional director-general (frontier headquarters) S.K. Singhal, said he was away in Delhi to attend an important meeting.

A source in the police headquarters said all the superintendents of police (SPs) deployed in the districts sharing boundaries with Nepal had been directed to keep a close watch on the movement of outsiders. They have been instructed to carry out vehicle checking drives and check hotels and railway platforms.

A senior officer posted at the state police headquarters said the SPs of East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul and Darbhanga have been asked to maintain maximum vigil. 'The state is being used as a conduit by Al-Qaeda and other terror groups to carry out operations across the country,' the officer said requesting anonymity.

Patna police have also sounded an alert in the wake of the intelligence reports on the terror outfit's nefarious plans. 'We have instructed the station house officers to check vehicles, particularly four-wheelers, at night,' senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jitendra Rana said.

Charges framed

A court on Tuesday framed charges against six alleged activists of Students Islamic Movement of India (Simi) in a case lodged under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Altogether 16 people were named accused in the case lodged with the Gandhi Maidan police station on October 4, 2001.