Police, intelligence to be strengthened to fight terror : Patil

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said there was need to strengthen police force and intelligence gathering to combat terror effectively while pointing out that politics should not be played over the issue.

He said India has one policeman per 800 of its population while Pakistan has one for every 400 people.

Replying to the debate over his suo motu statement over serial blasts in three cities of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Patil said out of eight lakh police personnel, six lakhs are guarding international borders, 33,000 in Naxal infested areas, 25,000 in Assam and about a lakh in Jammu and Kashmir.

''We are left with 50,000 and we have to rush them wherever violence breaks out,'' he pointed out.

Mr Patil said the state governments cannot be blamed entirely for the lapses, even the intelligence gathering has to be strengthened, like the CID which has become nearly defunct due to lack of funds.

Also issues like economic disparities and social justice has to be taken care of, he said. Unemployment and unequal distribution of land is also a contributing factor to the growth of the menace, he observed.

There should be enough funds to raise more police battalions and upgrade their technologies.

''We have to work collectively,'' Mr Patil said.

He mourned those who were killed in the near simultaneous blasts in court premises in Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi. The UP government has already announced Rs five lakh ex-gratia payment for next of kin of the deceased and another lakh from the PM's relief fund, Mr Patil said.

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