Warning that serious challenges posed by naxal violence, cross-border terrorism and religious fundamentalism continue to persist, prime minister Manmohan Singh today said there is need for greater coordination and responses from the states to effectively deal with them.

Inaugurating the conference of chief ministers' on internal security, Singh said there can be no let up in the government's efforts in the fight against terrorism and communal violence.

"...we all need to be conscious of the fact that serious challenges and threats - primarily from left wing extremism, cross border terrorism, religious fundamentalism and ethnic violence - still persist," he said.

The prime minister said as far as the left wing extremism was concerned, 2010 saw a decrease over the previous year in the number of incidents and causalities of security forces, though the number of causalities among civilians increased.

"Chhattisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand continue to be a cause for concern in view of the level of violence. The problems in Orissa and Maharashtra are also quite serious," he said.

Asking the chief ministers to consider increasing the number of joint operations by state police forces with the assistance of central forces, Singh said in the fight against the Maoists, there is a need to have a greater coordination of responses and resources between the central and state forces.

The prime minister said there was a steep fall in the number of terror attacks in the country during last year except for two incidents in Pune and Varanasi.

"While our people and security agencies deserve credit in these areas, the importance of being constantly vigilant and on our guard cannot be over-emphasised. There can be no let up in our efforts if we are to succeed in our fight against terrorism and communal violence," he said.

Describing as unfortunate the death of many young people in Jammu and Kashmir during protests and stone pelting incidents in the summer of 2010, the Prime Minister said the agitation generated a vicious cycle of violence in the Valley.

"As we meet today, the situation in the Valley has improved following the visit of the all party delegation to the state, the subsequent announcement of the 8-point programme by the government and a number of positive measures jointly initiated by the government of India and and the state government," he said

He also said the 3-member team of interlocutors was also trying to reach out to various sections of the people for opening a dialogue with them.

Referring to stone pelting incidents, Singh said there was a need to develop non-lethal techniques and capabilities within central and state police organisations to respond to such forms of public protests and violence.

"I am given to understand that the ministry of home affairs has prepared standard operating procedures to this effect and these will be shared with the state governments during the conference," he said.

On the Allahabad high court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits, Singh said all sections of the society had shown tremendous restraint after the judgement and response to it by and large was mature, respectful and dignified.

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India remains vulnerable to terror as new outfits mushroom: HM

Home minister calls for exposing the terror network "irrespective of religious affiliations"

Underlining that India remains "vulnerable" to terrorism, home minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said new groups are suspected to be behind some terror attacks that took place in recent years.

"I must caution you that there is no let up in the attempts to infiltrate into India from across the India- Pakistan border. Besides, there are a number of modules operating within the country and new groups have raised their heads that are suspected to be behind some terrorist attacks that took place in recent years," he said in his address at the 'Meeting of Chief Minister on Internal Security' here.

The minister said, "We cannot shy away from naming these groups or exposing their designs. Whatever their religious affiliations, I have no hesitation in condemning every group that resorts to terror as a means of advancing dubious religious causes or fundamentalist goals.

"Our policy in this regard is clear -- every terrorist and every terrorist group will be pursued and brought before the law and punished," he said.

Chidambaram, however, did not name any of the groups that were suspected to be behind some of the terrorists attacks in the last few years.

He said, "The evidence that the NIA and CBI are discovering every day should serve as a wake-up call to the new sources of terror that threaten our security."

Referring to Maoists, the home minister said, "Looking back at 2010, my assessment is that there is a kind of a stalemate. The state governments concerned cannot claim any major advance, nor should we conclude that the CPI (Maoist) has gained the upper hand. There have been casualties on both sides."

Security forces had received some serious setbacks last year including the loss of 75 CRPF personnel in one single ambush undertaken by the Maoists in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh.

The minister said the CPI (Maoist) remains a powerful and determined adversary and has added at least four companies to the People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of the Maoists.

Taking an apparent dig at civil society activists, Chidambaram said in 2010, left-wing extremists killed 718 civilians of which 323 were killed after branding them as 'police informers'.

"Unlike our security forces, the Maoist cadres are not constrained by the rule of law or rules of conflict. In areas they dominate they act as judge, jury and executioner.

"I regret that no representative of civil society has called for an inquiry into the brutal and unlawful killing of civilians and other acts of depredation committed by the CPI (Maoist)," he said.

Chidambaram said, "The government's offer of talks remains valid on the condition that the CPI (Maoist) abjured violence."

Talking about other issues, the minister said Jammu and Kashmir presents a "unique challenge". He said the situation was improving until the beginning of June 2010.

"The three-month period of agitation was an unfortunate and deeply regrettable chapter. However, after the visit of the all-party parliamentary delegation and the appointment of interlocutors, there has been a significant improvement."

He said the interlocutors have been able to change the discourse. "We have tasked them to outline the contours of a political solution based on the suggestions received by them. My earnest appeal is that nothing should be said or done that will destroy the fragile peace or derail the process of finding a political solution."

On the issue of insurgency in northeast, the minister said it gave him "great satisfaction" to report that there had been a dramatic change in the situation there.

He said 2010 witnessed the lowest level of violence in many years. "Barring Assam and Manipur, the other states have shown remarkable improvement."

The minister also said he is happy to report that the internal security situation in the country has vastly improved during the last two years.

In 2010, there was one major incident in Pune on February 13. There was another incident in Varanasi on December 7 last year that "caused, thankfully little damage," he said.

Chidambaram said in both cases, specific intelligence was given to the two state governments. He said it would be unrealistic to expect that intelligence could be any more specific than what was gathered and shared in the two cases.

"I am sure you will agree with me that the two incidents of terror in a period of 26 months mark a significant improvement in the situation," he said.