Security situation uncertain, says PM

Singh asks top cops to foil terrorists designs

These alarmist comments were made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the All India conference of directors-general and Inspector Generals of police here.

In the last fortnight, Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram have addressed three high-profile meetings of the National Integration council (NIC), National workshop of 60 collectors in the naxal-affected regions and the National Conference of DG/IGP. In all these conferences, more or less similar security concerns were expressed by the prime minister and the home minister.

The political leadership at the highest level spoke about five lakh vacancies in the police establishments, inadequacy of intelligence and absence of an effective counter terrorism set-up in the country. The prime minister almost largely repeated his earlier assertions relating to internal security during his Friday’s address at the DGP/IGP meet.

“The national security situation continues to be uncertain. Recent terror attacks in Mumbai and Delhi are a grave reminder of the great challenge posed by terrorists to our nation’s security,” Singh said after giving away meritorious service medals to police officers.

The prime minister said there was no room for complacency on the security front in  Jammu and Kashmir.

“There are reports of cross-border camps for terrorists being reactivated, and of attempts to induct fresh batches of militants into the country,” Singh said.

Coordination

He stressed the need to ensure that attempts to infiltrate are foiled through the smooth and coordinated functioning of all security agencies, working in the state.

Singh said “human intelligence capabilities need to be improved.” Grassroots information and intelligence collection systems that have traditionally been a part of policing “have languished or fallen into disuse in some places.”

The role of a vigilant and effective beat constable could be vital in checking the activities of terror networks, which otherwise operate under the radar, the prime minister said.