Indian police on high alert say they have arrested a small cell of heavily-armed Muslim militants who admitted planning to attack a huge parade in New Delhi during Republic Day celebrations Monday.
Senior police officials say three members of the Kashmir-based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba were arrested early Sunday The group is fighting India's presence in disputed Kashmir. Police say the arrests also netted three kilograms of high explosives, rocket-propelled grenades and detonators.
Annual Republic Day festivities marking India's 1950 birth as a republic have become a major target of Kashmiri militants in recent years.
Today, the Indian army said troops seized more than 100 grenades, eight bombs and 40 kilograms of explosives from several suspected militant hideouts in Kashmir. Thousands of rounds of pistol and rifle ammunition were also reported seized in recent days.
The main Republic day celebration in Kashmir is set to take place in the Indian winter capital Jammu at a sports stadium. Officials say troops have boosted already-tight security in the area, and cordoned off the stadium while officials swept the area today for explosives.