Chidambaram doesn't rule out ISI attempts to infiltrate

New Delhi, Feb 25 (ANI): Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said that though attempts of infiltration by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) cannot be ruled out, the country's security mechanism is prepared to act upon any smallest intelligence in this regard.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said despite looming concerns of agencies attempting to infiltrate terror related activities into Indian territory, India has intimated all the State Governments to get their acts together.

"We are aware that ISI has a rather long arm and can reach out to other parts of South Asia. Our coastal vigilance in coastal Tamil Nadu and coast of Kerala has been significantly strengthened in the last couple of months. We have strengthened both our central intelligence as well as we have asked the State Governments to strengthen state intelligence. They have been strengthened," he said.

"All applicants for visas holding Sri Lankan passports are subjected to scrutiny today. There is no specific report today of any ISI agent or ISI instituting agents attempting to infiltrate into India, but I do not rule out that.

All I can say is that internal vigilance is price of liberty, we are vigilant. The slightest information or smallest intelligence is immediately acted upon," Chidambaram added.

Chidambaram also told the House that all the elements which are of relevance and can be adopted into Indian condition have been implemented after an Indian intelligence team which has come from the United States after studying their security mechanism, post September 11 terrorist attack.

"We are also working with security agencies of other countries. Israel is one of them, but Israel is not the only one. There are other countries which have offered to work with us. I may mention United Kingdom and Germany.

We are learning everyday. I can say with some humility, we are improving everyday, but there is still some distance to go. I think by March 31 connection between Multi Agency Centre, subsidiary MAC and special branch of police will be established," he added.

Giving details of the bomb blasts and major terror attacks in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Guwahati and Mumbai between January 2008 and January this year, the Home Minister said all cases are under investigation and he is personally monitoring them.

"A total of 443 people were killed and 1647 others were injured in terrorist attacks including bomb blasts during that period," he said. (ANI)