Chidambaram says threat of terrorist attacks remains

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said that, though India had been remarkably free of any terrorist attack in the last 21 months, save for one incident, it did not mean that the threat of such attacks had gone away.

"I wish to caution you that there is no let up in the attempts to infiltrate militants into India. There is no let up in the attempts to radicalise young men and women in India," he said in his inaugural address at the conference of Directors General of Police (DGPs) and Inspectors General of Police (IGPs) here.

"Besides, there is the recently uncovered phenomenon of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past. My advice to you is that we must remain ever vigilant and continue to build, at the Central and State levels, our capacity in counter-terrorism," he said.

On the issue of left-wing extremism, Mr Chidambaram said the Government had called upon the CPI (Maoist) to abjure violence and come for talks but regretted that there had been no direct and credible response to the offer so far.

The Home Minister said that, through 2009 and in the first eight months of this year, the security situation was severely challenged by forces inimical to India both within and outside the country.

"Contrary to perceptions in a section of the media – and, consequently, among sections of the people – the Indian State has been able to stand up to these challenges and face them with confidence and courage," he said. He also acknowledged the willing cooperation extended by the State Governments.

He said the prime mover was always policy and experience had shown that if there were clarity of purpose and a well-enunciated policy, the security forces would be able to deliver.

He cited the example of the policy of zero tolerance of cross border terrorism announced by the Government and the number of steps taken by it to build capacity, augment intelligence, raise special forces, acquire modern equipment, impart better training and take counter-terrorism measures.

"As a result, save for one incident, the last 21 months have been remarkably free of any terrorist attack. The (February 13) attack on the German Bakery in Pune was indeed a blot. I sincerely hope that the suspects will be apprehended as soon as possible," he said.

On the challenge of Naxalism, Mr Chidambaram said it was often forgotten that it was the State Governments that had been, and continue to be, in the forefront of fighting the menace.

He said all State Governments were committed to the two-pronged strategy of development and police action. He said the Centre had, in November 2009, persuaded the States to adopt a coordinated strategy and provided them more para-military forces. He said the Centre had also made it clear that it would take several years before they could contain the CPI (Maoist) and roll back their offensive.

"I think the people of India understand – even if the critics do not – that the conflict will be a long-drawn one, that patience is the key, that mistakes will be made, and that the security forces need material and moral support to carry out their tasks," he said.

The Home Minister said that, in the last 10 months, despite setbacks in Gadchiroli, Silda, Tadmetla and Chingavaram, the security forces had been able to re-assert the control of the State in several affected districts.

"While the loss of every life is a matter of grief and regret, nothing is more painful than the killing of innocent civilians after naming them as ‘police informers’. This year alone, so far, 424 civilians have been killed and, of these, 192 were killed after being named ‘police informers’. Who shares the grief of their families, who speaks up against their killings? We have called upon the CPI (Maoist) to abjure violence and come for talks. I regret to say that there has been no direct and credible response to our offer of talks," he said.

Mr Chidambaram said that, apart from containing terrorsm, the best record of achievement had been in the North Eastern States. While the year 2009 was a distinct improvement on the year 2008, it is in 2010 that there had been a dramatic decline in the number of incidents and in the number of casualties, he said.

According to him, there have been only 464 incidents until August 15, 2010, as against 1,297 and 1,561 for the whole year in 2009 and 2008, respectively.

"Only 52 civilians have been killed, as against 264 and 466 respectively, and we have lost only 15 men of the security forces. Nevertheless, I must admit with regret that Manipur and Assam have been affected by long-duration blockades and bandhs and by intermittent violence," he said.

He said that it was a matter of great satisfaction that a number of groups were engaged in talks with the Government of India. Among them are NSCN (IM), NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), UPDS, ANVC, KLNLF, KNO and UPF.

He said the Centre had appointed two interlocutors: Mr R.S. Pandey to talk to the NSCN (IM) and Mr P.C. Haldar to talk to NDFB (PT), DHD (Nunisa), DHD (J), KLNLF, UPDS and ANVC, besides ULFA.

Mr Chidambaram hoped that the ULFA would also formally come forward to begin talks with the Government of India and the Government of Assam.

He said there was no denying that the success achieved in bringing so many groups to the negotiating table had contributed immensely to the decline of violence in the North Eastern States.

"I would appeal to the groups – or factions of groups – that have stayed away from talks to give up violence, accept the offer of the Governments to hold talks, enter into agreements of ceasefire or suspension of operations, and begin talks with the Governments’ representatives. I am confident that solutions can be found within the Constitution of India to the demands of various groups for recognition of their identity, history, culture and desire for self-government. The best example is the Bodo Territorial Council which has turned out to be a model of self-governance within the State of Assam and within the Constitution of India," he said.

Turning to Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Chidambaram said that, beginning 2005, and with the exception of 2008, the law and order situation in the State had been extremely benign, with few incidents and fewer casualties.

"Unfortunately, since June this year, there has been an unexpected turn of events. I am afraid J&K is now caught in a vicious cycle of stone-pelting, lathicharge, teargasing and firing, leading to casualties, and resulting in more stone-pelting. The security forces have been instructed to act with great restraint. The situation has not yet returned to normal," he said.

Nevertheless, amidst serious disturbances, 457,324 yatris completed the Amarnath Yatra, exceeding the number of 392,000 yatris last year. So far, 516,970 tourists have visited J&K, and that number also exceeds the 355,960 tourists of last year, he said.

The Home Minister said the Central Government had acknowledged that a political solution must be found to the problems of J&K. He said the Central Government has offered a dialogue with all sections of the people of J&K and all political parties and groups.

"We are concerned that we have not been able to stop the vicious cycle in which that State is caught. However, it is my hope that, in the next few days, we would be able to find that elusive ‘starting point’ from where we could reach out to the protestors, reassure them of their rights and dignity, restore peace and order, redeem the promises made, and re-start the process of dialogue that will lead to a solution," he said.

Mr Chidambaram said one of the principal concerns was the maintenance of communal peace and harmony. He said he was particularly dismayed by the fact that petty disputes and imagined slights triggered conflicts between communities and groups.

"The Scheduled Castes are especially vulnerable. While it is a matter of satisfaction that there has been no major outbreak of communal or caste violence in the last 12 months, I would urge you to remain vigilant. At the first sign of communal or caste violence, you should depute senior officers to deal with the situation firmly and without fear or favour," he told the officers attending the conference.

Mr Chidambaram listed the various steps taken by the Centre to strengthen internal security, especially in the matter of providing resources, intelligence, training facilities and para-military forces to the State Governments, which have the primary responsibility for "police" and "law and order".

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is slated to address the conference tomorrow. The inaugural session was attended by, among others, Ministers of State for Home Mullapally Ramachandran and Ajay Maken, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, Home Secretary G K Pillai and Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Mathur.

NNN