Terror groups maintaining ability to use sea route: PM

New Delhi, Sept 8: Prime Minister

today pitched for a comprehensive maritime domain awareness scheme as there were indications that terrorist groups are maintaining their ability to use the sea route.

On the concluding day of a three-day long meeting of Directors and Inspectors General of Police here, Singh also said that there were increasing infiltration attempts in Jammu and Kashmir. "In Jammu and Kashmir, we are beginning to see increasing infiltration attempts, across the Line of Control and even the International Border. There are also indications about terrorist groups maintaining their ability to use the sea route."

"Vigilance, therefore, needs to be exercised not only on our land borders but along the coast line as well. The comprehensive scheme of Maritime Domain Awareness to be led by the Navy would help strengthen coastal vigilance, whereas deployment of more permanent border obstacles and better sensors could improve the situation along the land borders," he said at the conference organised by Intelligence Bureau.

Though the Prime Minister did not name any terror outfit, Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit had used the sea route to infiltrate into Mumbai in November 2008 and went on a shooting spree killing over 160 people.

The Prime Minister also said that the terror threat in the hinterland continues to be a cause for worry. "Although 19 interdictions have taken place, terrorists were able to strike in Mumbai and Delhi last year and Pune this year. Investigations in these cases are yet to conclude," Singh said.

PTI