Chidambaram says cross-border terrorism is a matter of deep concern India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said that cross border terrorism is a matter of deep concern. They find supports among disgruntled elements within India. Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day conference on internal security threats, Chidambaram said: "Cross border terrorism is a matter of deep concern. Terrorist groups including LeT and JeM persist in their endeavour to launch terror attacks. They continue to innovate new ways and means of deniability. They find supports among disgruntled elements within India. Cells and modules within India lend an Indian character to these activities. Through community policing and other innovative measures, we must detect and deny any opportunity to our adversaries." Lauding the work of the police forces, in maintaining the security of the country, he asserted a firm stance on issues like terrorism and left wing extremism. "Let me state our position clearly. On terrorism, our stance is zero tolerance. We shall raise our level of preparedness to fight any terror threat attack and, in the case of threat or attack, our response will be swift and decisive," the Home Minister said. He said the security agencies have neutralised 13 terror modules in the first six months of this year. Describing 26/11 attacks as a game-changer, he said "We meet under circumstances that pose formidable challenges to the security of the nation. We can no longer afford to business as usual," he added. Talking about the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that there are attempts being made from across the border to unite separatists and disrupt the situation in the state. "Terror elements take advantage of our systemic constraints and an effective way to combat it is institutionalised mechanism, intelligence coordination and technological advancement," he added. He also chalked out the priority areas in the next five years- a modern police act, mega city policing, and prison reforms.