The Indian government has detected 80,000 infiltrators who sneaked into the country since independence in 1947, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
"As per our information, 80,000 infiltrators have been detected since independence," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said during question hour in the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to a question on the "possible dangers due to intrusion", Patil was silent on the fate of these infiltrators.
In response to a supplementary, the minister said the government was alive to the danger of infiltration from the sea.
"We have 15,000 km of land borders and 7,000 km of coastline to guard. We have tightened the vigil at the land borders and terrorists are now attempting to come from the sea. The Navy and the Coast Guard are helping to control this. We are also helping the states to establish coastal police stations," Patil said.