Pak-based outfits helped by disgruntled elements: Chidambaram

Pakistan-based groups like Lashker-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed are continuing to plot terror attacks against India where they are finding support from disgruntled elements, Home Minister P Chidambaram warned today while describing Mumbai attacks as a "game changer".

This is perhaps for the first time that the Home Minister has publicly spoken about LeT and JeM getting help from disgruntled elements in the country.

He also said that there were attempts from across the border to forge unity among separatists in Jammu and Kashmir and escalate violence.

"Terrorist groups including LeT and JeM persist in their endeavour to launch terror attacks. They continue to innovate new ways and means of deniability. They find support among disgruntled elements within India," Chidambaram said while inaugurating a three-day conference of Directors General and Inspectors General of police organised by Intelligence Bureau.

In some hard talk, Chidambaram described the Mumbai attacks as a "game changer", saying "we can no longer afford to do business as usual".

"Let me state our position clearly. On terrorism, our stance is zero tolerance. We shall raise our level of preparedness to fight any terror threat attack and, in the case of threat or attack, our response will be swift and decisive," he said.

Terming cross-border terrorism as a matter of deep concern, Chidambaram said policing in India was always a challenge and after "26/11, the challenge has become more grave".

He said the security agencies have neutralised 13 terror modules in the first six months of this year.

On the threat posed by Left-Wing extremism, he said various groups were adhering to this "outdated ideology" and had pockets of influence in 20 states with the banned CPI (Maoist) remaining the most potent of the naxal groups. It has a presence in 17 states and a 90 per cent share in naxal violence.

In a bid to expand its network and influence, the Maoists have been seeking alliances with North-East insurgents, he said.

"It has been keenly seeking ideological resonance and tactical understanding with the North-East insurgents and has begun to lend support to their secessionist ideology and demands," he said.

The Home Minister said "endemic insurgencies" in the North-eastern states also posed a security challenge.

"The trend of gradual deterioration in security situation during last several years seems to have been checked this year with relative decline in overall violence. Sharp shrinkages in social resonance has rendered the ULFA a much weaker organisation," he said.

Chidambaram expressed concern over the situation in Manipur but said insurgencies have been contained in Meghalaya and Tripura.