Central Agency needed to tackle terrorism, naxalism

Pune, Aug 4 (UNI) Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil today said he supported and shared the Centre's vision of a Central Agency as well as a new intelligence system to deal with terrorism and naxalism across the country.

Talking to reporters after releasing the 10th Annual Report on Crime in Maharashtra-2007 by the State CID, Mr Patil said the state was one of the few States willing to concede power to an outside central agency to maintain security.

He said the intelligence agencies need to be strengthened and information gathered and shared between the state and centre, especially with respect to the activities of SIMI and Pakistani networks.

Talking about the rise of crime in Maharashtra by ten per cent, Patil said it was 'natural', considering the growth in population, industrialization, the prosperity level, rising per capita income, the gap between the rich and the poor and unemployment in the State.

''Even if crime is increasing, we are still safe in India and Mumbai, as compared to countries like the US, UK, Australia,'' Mr Patil said, adding that the problem was more due to the changing face of crime and criminals, that has gone across borders and States.

Giving examples, he said the Gujarat blasts were traced to three loaded Wagon-R's in Navi Mumbai, and the criminals of the Mumbai blasts were nabbed in Bihar.

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