New Delhi, Feb 1 (PTI):
Apparently exercising caution in referring to rightwing groups, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed concern over threats from various sources including religious fundamentalism while Home Minister P Chidambaram spoke about "new groups" that are suspected to be behind some terror attacks in recent years.
Addressing a conference of chief ministers on internal security, both of them avoided any direct reference to rightwing groups which have recently come under the scanner over their alleged involvement in cases like Malegaon, Samjhauta Express, Mecca Masjid and Ajmer blasts.
"We all need to be conscious of the fact that serious challenges and threats -- primarily from Left wing extremism, cross border terrorism, religious fundamentalism and ethnic violence -- still persist," Singh said in his inaugural address.
The Prime Minister said he was happy to note that the National Investigative Agency has gained much ground "in unraveling the activities of new terror groups" besides unearthing the fake Indian currency notes networks operating from across the borders. Singh however added there can be no let up in the government's efforts in the fight against terrorism and communal violence.
The Prime Minister said as far as the Left-wing extremism was concerned, 2010 saw a decrease over the previous year in the number of incidents and causalities of security forces, though the number of causalities among civilians increased.
"Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand continue to be a cause for concern in view of the level of violence. The problems in Orissa and Maharashtra are also quite serious," he said.
Asking the chief ministers to consider increasing the number of joint operations by state police forces with the assistance of central forces, Singh said in the fight against the Maoists, there is a need to have a greater coordination of responses and resources between the central and state forces.
Describing as unfortunate the death of many young people in Jammu and Kashmir during protests and stone pelting incidents in the summer of 2010, the Prime Minister said the agitation generated a vicious cycle of violence in the Valley.
Singh said while the central and the state intelligence agencies were at work, there was a need to recognise the fact that the best, actionable and prompt intelligence on internal security often comes from the police stations.
"But people will come forth to give information to the local policeman, only when they see him as a friend. We need to closely examine the functioning of police stations and bring forth changes to make policemen truly people friendly.
We need to take three-pronged action on community policing, police reforms and informed use of technology respectively to make this happen," he said.