PM to chair a high-level meet to review internal security

New Delhi, Dec 5: The Centre will take a holistic review of the internal security of the country by holding a high-level meeting in the national capital on December 20 and will try to evolve a joint strategy for countering terrorists and Naxals.

The conference will be attended by all Chief Ministers of the States and will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Top officials of paramilitary forces and security agencies will also participate in the conference.

The conference is expected to stress on co-ordination between the state administration and the central intelligence agencies on sharing of intelligence inputs.

The recent multiple and near simultaneous blasts in three different cities of Uttar Pradesh had led to confusion, and the State Government under the Chief Ministership of BSP leader Mayawati blamed the Centre for not alerting them with intelligence inputs. The Union Home Ministry however, later rejected this.

The proposal for setting up a special central investigative agency to probe terror related incidents is also expected to be a highlight during the conference.

The growing strength of Maoists in different States of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal has led to rising concerns, and has prompted for a review of the strategy to tackle it.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs Sriprakash Jaiswal today told the Rajya Sabha that insurgent groups active in the north-eastern States have developed links with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These insurgent groups are using Bangladesh territory as their hideouts. (ANI)>