Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday flagged increasing infiltration from across the line of control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, cautioning that secessionist and militant groups were making common cause with ?outside elements? to destabilise the nation.
Addressing the All India Conference of DGPs and IGPs, Singh also termed Left wing extremism as the gravest internal threat to the nation as levels of violence in affected states had continued to rise but made it clear that it should not be treated purely as a law and order problem.
Making it clear that there was no room for complacency, Prime Minister Singh told the senior police officers that disruptive efforts should be contained, controlled and effectively checked. He said that infiltration from other routs such as Nepal, Bangladesh and the sea ?is going up?. With reference to J&K, the Prime Minister pointed out that encounters with armed militants had become more frequent in the state in recent weeks and months despite the level of violence actually going down. Singh hinted broadly that recent protest movements in the state were actively aided by divisive groups and elements with the apparent intention of creating an impression of widespread turmoil. ?We must not and I repeat we must not allow such a situation to develop? he told the conference, that is also being attended by home minister P Chidambaram and national security advisor MK Narayanan.
Chidambaram was praised highly by the Prime Minister, who complimented him for improving the internal security situation in the last few months. Singh made it a point to underline that the country had not had any major terrorist attack since November last year.
On tackling Naxalism, the Prime Minister said that dealing with Maoists required a nuanced strategy. ?Despite its sanguinary nature the movement manages to retain a section of the tribals and the poorest of the poor in many areas. It has influence among sizable sections of civil society, the intelligentsia and youth. It still retains a certain clan. All this adds to the complexity of the problem,? Singh said.
Singh also said the north-east needed special attention with a firm but compassionate approach while tackling law and order issues. ?In two of the states, Manipur and Assam, current levels of violence give us cause for concern. I believe, it should be possible, to bring about a substantial improvement in the situation if there is better security,? he said. ?Particularly so, as in terms of number, we are dealing with a very limited number of people who have gone stray? he said.
Calling for a complete overhaul of the policing system, the Prime Minister said the need of the hour was for new age policeman who is more professional, better motivated and well trained. ?Emphasis should be on capacity building from the police station level itself, so that the police is better equipped,? he said while making a strong case for modernisation of the police system. ?Our police forces must operate on the frontiers of modern technology? he said adding that systems must be designed with minimum scope for corruption.