How India plans to improve internal security

A four-pronged strategy has been evolved by the government to tone up internal security in the country which, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Thursday asserted, had improved.

"The situation in Jammu and Kashmir and in the northeast has improved while the Naxalite problem is under control and there has been no major communal conflict," he said, winding up a short duration debate in the Rajya Sabha on internal security scenario in the country.

Explaining the Centre's policy to deal with internal security, Patil said additional battalions of paramilitary forces were being raised to enhance the strength of law enforcing agencies, while intelligence agencies were being strengthened at the national and state levels.

Another strategy, he said, was to get the cooperation of the people at large and pointed out that private security agencies were allowed to guard private establishments, thereby reducing the burden on police.

Patil also said the government was keen on removing economic disparities and improving infrastructure. While Rs 24,000 crore has being made available to Jammu and Kashmir,

Rs 20,000 crore was provided as non-lapsable fund to the north eastern states. Besides, a lot of money was provided for all round development of Naxal-hit areas, he said.

"The approach is not to solve the problem using force but by providing means to reduce unemployment and improve economy," he said.

The home minister said tough anti-terror laws were prone to misuse. However, he said it was necessary to have laws where innocents should not be harassed.

Referring to the Special Powers Act, Patil said the Supreme Court had considered it and suggested dos and don'ts while dealing with terrorists. "I think there shall be no difficulty in implementing this," he said.

Noting there was an overall improvement in the situation in insurgency-hit northeast, he said the government was not against holding talks with ULFA. Talks, he said, were on with Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka relating to extradition on security-related issues.