Intelligence, technology key to fighting terror, says Patil

Opening the three-day meet of the country8217;s top cops here on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that actionable Intelligence was the best way to foil designs of terrorists...

Opening the three-day meet of the country8217;s top cops here on Wednesday, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that actionable Intelligence was the best way to foil designs of terrorists, who rely on modern technology and sophisticated weapons to carry out attacks.

Patil said terrorists were likely to strike at places where innocent people gather in large numbers. 8220;Religious places can be attacked and the police too can become their targets. Politicians and other important persons may also be targeted,8221; he said.

The Home Minister also talked about sleeper cells in big cities, which could be activated when terrorist groups needed them. Perfect, reliable and actionable Intelligence was needed to 8220;perform policing in a proper manner8221;.

Pointing out that lack of security could also stop flow of investment, Patil said: 8220;Development needs security and security needs development. They should go hand-in-hand.8221;

Patil lauded Central Intelligence agencies and asked for 8220;better8221; contribution from states in 8220;acquiring, analysing and using8221; Intelligence. Special agencies of states 8220;are not strong and adequate enough,8221; he said, pointing out that Intelligence should be prioritised in the budgetary plan to tackle terrorism.

Warning that criminals now had access to new technologies and newer crimes were surfacing, the Home Minister said: 8220;Dealing with them requires newer methods and newer approaches and better training methods. The police cannot afford to lag behind criminals in making use of new ideas, equipment, technologies and training.8221;

He also suggested that private persons and agencies should be used for security purposes whenever needed.

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Referring to states where a number of posts in the police force have been lying vacant, Patil said there should be 8220;no difficulties and delays8221; in filling them. He expressed concern over the low police-population ratio in the country and said that several states had not increased the strength of their police force for the past years.

Incomplete utilisation of Central funds to strengthen security also came under his scrutiny. Patil pointed out that the 8220;funds made available are not utilised by some states8221;.

He was satisfied with the situation in J-K, but maintained there was no scope for complacency if infiltration continued from across the border. The Minister was concerned about the continuing violence in Assam and Manipur, and factional clashes in Nagaland. On Naxalism, he said the situation had become difficult in some states.