National Sports: BC-AS-SPT-CRK-India-Sou

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r s BC-AS-SPT-CRK--India-Sou 1stLd-Writethru   04-09 0288
^BC-AS-SPT-CRK--India-South Africa-Threat, 1st Ld-Writethru,0314<
^Security increased after reported threats to Kanpur test<
^Eds: UPDATES with comment from South African team<

     NEW DELHI (AP) _ Security will be increased for the third test
between India and South Africa in Kanpur, police said Wednesday,
after reports that militants planned to target the game.

     The CNN-IBN news channel quoted unnamed police sources in New
Delhi as saying they had information that Islamic militants may try
to carry out an attack in Kanpur.

     Vikram Singh, the police chief in India‘s Uttar Pradesh state,
where Kanpur is located, declined to comment on the threats, but
said there would be extra security for the game.

     ``We are taking no chances and all possible precautions have
been taken to ensure a safe cricket match at Kanpur,‘‘ he told
CNN-IBN.

     Singh said police would deploy extra manpower, equipment and
technology and called on the public to ``feel free to watch the
match in a relaxed atmosphere.‘‘

     The New Delhi police spokesman and officials from the Board of
Control for Cricket in India were not immediately available for
comment.

     The South African team learned about the threats from the
television report, said team spokesman Michael Owen-Smith.

     ``Obviously we are in discussions with the relevant
authorities,‘‘ he said, declining to elaborate.

     India had been hit by several terror attacks in recent years,
including the July 2006 Mumbai train blasts that killed more than
200 people _ attacks India blames on Pakistani-backed militants.

     South Africa leads India 1-0, going into third and final test
starting Friday.

     

     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-04-09-08 0933EDT<