Terrorism part of global design to split India:Bhattacharjee

Kolkata, July 26 (UNI) Alleging that an attempt was being made to cause the disintegration of India from within, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said the possibility of US influence on terrorism in the sub-continent could not be ruled out.

''There is an international problem behind the terrorist acts in India which are not related to local socio-economic problems. A great global conspiracy is on in the Indian sub-continent to break the country from inside,'' he told the state Assembly.

The network of the conspiracy was spread in countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh, he said during the question hour.

Giving reply to a query on the Belakoba train blast in Jalpaiguri district, the Chief Minister said going by the method of triggering the blast, it appeared that the materials were brought from outside.

Though the Belakoba explosion had no direct links with the serial train blasts in Mumbai, the 'origin' of both the incidents was the same, he said.

Replying to another question whether the US was involved in the Belakoba incident, Mr Bhattacharjee said he could not make such a pointed statement. ''But America has had a role wherever terrorism reigns in the world. Its influence on the Indian sub-continent cannot be ruled out,'' he said.

Speaking on the threat of extremism in North Bengal, Mr Bhattacharjee said Bhutan, where members of the ULFA and Kamtapuri Liberation Organisation(KLO) had taken shelter, no longer remained a problem. But ULFA extremists were now entering the state from Asom in a bid to regroup themselves.

''They are trying to be active in places like Kumargram, Dhupguri, Moynaguri, Mathabhanga and Falakata in Jalpaiguri and Coochbehar districts of West Bengal,'' he said.

The Chief Minister informed the House that the state government had been in constant touch with the Centre and the military intelligence for a coordinated move against terrorist acts.

Observing that trains had been made a soft target by the terrorist groups, he said efforts were being made to increase the strength of railway police and provide them with more arms.

UNI