PM declines to comment on status of investigation into blasts

Bagdogra, May 17 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today declined to comment on the status of investigation into Tuesday's serial blasts in Jaipur while advocating the setting up of an agency to tackle issues like terrorism.

''I would not like to comment on the status of investigations because these things are best left to investigating agencies. We will look at all possible angles and take all necessary steps,'' he said at a press conference here on his return from a two-day visit to Bhutan.

Dr Singh was asked whether there was need for an agency to grapple with terrorism.

''Time has come to look at such an agency to tackle things like terrorism because it was not restricted to any one location. There are multi-state ramifications. There is white-collar terrorism, drug trafficking and narcotics, There is a case for such an agency,'' Dr Singh said.

He said the Centre had discussed this issue at the Inter-State Council meetings but the states were reluctant about setting up such an agency.

Dr Singh also spoke about strengthening security and investigating agencies and the intelligence-gathering apparatus.

UNI SA RP GC1728