Terrorism can only be countered by heightened vigil, coordination: PM

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Saturday, urged the country's police chiefs to instruct and order the personnel under their watch to maintain heightened vigil and coordinate more effectively to neutralise terrorism.

Addressing state directors general of police and inspectors general of police at Vigyan Bhawan here, Dr. Singh warned that there has been resurgence of terror groups, and this can only be countered through improved coordination between various security agencies.

"Resurgence of terrorist groups, particularly L-e-T (Lashkar-e-Toiba), and increased infiltration attempts (by militants from across the border) call for heightened vigil and coordination," Dr. Singh said.

He further stated that there is also a likelihood of attempts being made to disrupt the forthcoming general and assembly elections.

"The security forces need to be careful," he said.

The Prime Minister's caution and warning to be more vigilant assumes importance in the wake of eight terror-related attacks taking place across the country since February this year.

On February 21, explosions in Hyderabad claimed the lives 16 persons and wounded 119.

On March 13, a militant attack resulted in the deaths of seven persons and injuries to ten others in Srinagar.

A bomb blast in Bangalore on April 17, injured 16.

An attack by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Darbha Valley on May 25, claimed the lives of 28 people and caused injuries to another 32.

June 24 saw another attack by militants in Srinagar in which eight persons were killed and 19 injured.

A Maoist attack on July 7 claimed five lives in Dumka. On the same day, bombings in Bodh gaya, Bihar, injured five persons.

On October 27, serial blasts at a BJP rally in Patna's Gandhi Maidan claimed five lives and injured 66

The three-day annual conference of Directors General of Police/ Inspectors General of Police of States, Union Territories and Heads of the Central Police Organisations (CPOs) began on November 21.

It was inaugurated by Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde.