Terrorists seeking to upset economic growth: Home Ministry

New Delhi, Nov 26 (ANI): The Home Ministry has said terrorists backed by various external agencies have spread their focal point beyond the Kashmir Valley with the aim of creating communal strain, affecting the country's economic development.

Giving details on how to tackle the 'wicked plans' of the terrorists, the terrorists have changed their center of attention and are now aiming beyond the Kashmir valley with the motive of undermining the economic affluence and troubling the communal accord, said sources from the Home Ministry.

"The challenge that we face today is from terrorist organisations that are not only equipped with latest technologies and have immense access to funds, but are having active backing of various external agencies," said a Home Ministry official.

It is high time, we take a comprehensive approach to tackle terrorism and put in exhaustive efforts to end this threat, added the official.

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has been braced up and reorganised to facilitate it to work on 24x7 basis to strengthen intelligence gathering and sharing machinery.

The MAC has been asked to share intelligence reports with all other agencies, including that of the state governments and Union Territories. All other agencies have also been asked to co-ordinate with MAC.

The government has established four NSG hubs (each with operational strength of around 250 personnel) at Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.

Costal security has also been tightened following 26/11 terrorists' attack. 64 out of 73 police stations are currently in operation under the coastal security scheme.

In 2009 (till October), 52 security personnel and 71 civilians were killed as against 69 security personnel and 86 civilians in the subsequent period last year.

The security forces have foiled a large number of infiltration attempts by terrorists from across the border. (ANI)