Coastal belt perceived to be a potent threat to internal security

New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) The possibility of militant groups using the coastal areas to intrude into the country and making uninhabited tiny islands as their base dominated the discussions at a high-level internal security review meeting of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held here.

The meeting, chaired by Home Secretary V K Duggal yesterday, focussed its deliberation on the different forms of security threats and their severity and the measures to be taken to tackle them.

MHA sources here today said there were indications to suggest that militant groups were now trying to gain entry through the coastal areas, which are not yet properly guarded, in the light of strengthening of the security along the borders with India.

Kerala and other southern states had been reportedly identified by the terror groups for gaining easy entry.

Besides surveillance by Coast Guard personnel, coastal areas were guarded by the local police under the state government.

The meeting, attended by top officials of the Military intelligence and Military Operations and para-military forces, was held against the backdrop of the spurt in ULFA violence in Asom and poll-bound states, especially Uttar Pradesh which witnessed a series of communal clashes in recent times.

Sources said the meeting also discussed reports about mushrooming of Madarasas along the borders and presence of 'jehadi' modules in the North-East.

It reviewed the internal security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern states and the situation in the 13 states affected by naxalism.

The meeting decided to give a further impetus to its two-pronged strategy of tightening security and releasing more funds for expediting the development of the affected areas and ensuring more job opportunities.

It was decided to have a meeting of the Task Force on Naxalism and a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (e-GoM) on Naxalism by this month end.

UNI