Group from outside behind Mumbai blasts: PM

Blaming elements outside the country for the terror strikes in Mumbai, PM Manmohan Singh warned that India will not tolerate the use of territories of its neighbours for attacks.

Shocked by the attacks in Mumbai, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday that the government would invoke the National Security Act, set up a Federal Investigation Agency and tighten the laws to deal with terrorism effectively.

Addressing the nation in an extraordinary step, he said the terrorist group responsible for the carnage in Mumbai was 8220;based outside the country8221; and promised to choke the infiltration lines and funds to ensure that such elements pay a 8220;heavy price8221; for such 8220;cowardly and horrific8221; acts.

Talking tough, Singh said India will not tolerate the use of territories of its neighbours for launching attacks here and there would be a 8220;cost8221; if suitable measures are not taken by them.

8220;It is evident that the group which carried out these attacks, based outside the country, had come with the single-minded determination to create havoc in the commercial capital of the country,8221; he said referring to the Mumbai attacks.

India will take up 8220;strongly with our neighbours that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated and that there would be a cost if suitable measures are not taken by them8221;, Singh said.

He asserted that 8220;strongest possible measures8221; would be taken to deal with such elements, including the use of the National Security Act and setting up of a Federal Investigation Agency to prevent such incidents.

While the National Security Act would be used to deal with situations of this kind, existing laws would be tightened to ensure that there were no loopholes available to terrorists to escape the clutches of the law, he said.

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8220;We are not prepared to countenance a situation in which the safety and security of our citizens can be violated with impunity by terrorists,8221; the Prime Minister said.

8220;It is essential to immediately set up a Federal Investigation Agency to go into terrorist crimes of this kind and ensure that the guilty are brought to book,8221; he said.

He said the government would take 8220;a number of measures to strengthen the hands8221; of police and investigation authorities. 8220;We will curb the flow of funds to suspect organisations. We will restrict the entry of suspects into the country,8221; Singh said.

8220;We will go after these individuals and organisations and make sure that every perpetrator, organiser and supporter of terror, whatever his affiliation or religion may be, pays a heavy price for these cowardly and horrific acts against our people,8221; he said.

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He said police reforms would be attended to in an urgent and serious manner 8220;so that the law and order authorities can work united, effectively and in a determined manner to tackle such threats to national integrity.8221;

On Mumbai attacks, he said the 8220;well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of panic by choosing high- profile targets and indiscriminately killing foreigners.8221;

Paying glowing tributes to the police officers and men who were killed in the attacks, he said 8220;I salute the courage and patriotism of the police officers, including the Chief of the Anti-Terror Squad Hemant Karkare and men who have laid down their lives in fighting these terrorists.8221;

He appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony so that 8220;the enemies of our country do not succeed in their nefarious designs.8221;