Kashmir, Maoist violence top agenda at internal security meet

NEW DELHI - Measures to tackle the latest Kashmir unrest, Maoist violence, strengthening internal security and filling gaping vacancies in the state police forces will be high on the agenda at the two-day annual conference of state police chiefs here Aug 25-26.

The meeting, which comes close on the heels of a chief ministers’ conference on internal security and other related issues last month, will be addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and inaugurated by Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of street protests will be discussed threadbare at the conference, organised by the Intelligence Bureau, a home ministry official said.

In the last two months, violent protests in the Kashmir Valley have led to continuous curfew and seen the deaths of over 60 civilians in firing by security forces.

The 45th conference of directors general of police and inspectors general of police, being held at Vigyan Bhawan, will be addressed by Manmohan Singh. The prime minister will also present police medals for meritorious service.

The conference is expected to deliberate on major internal security threats, including Left wing extremism, terrorism, coastal security, insurgency in the northeast and fake currency notes in the country.

According to home ministry data, 209 security men and 325 civilians have been killed in over 1,100 attacks perpetrated by Maoists this year alone. The prime minister has repeatedly described the Maoists as the “biggest” internal security threat.

The agenda also includes presentations on important policing issues like security arrangements planned for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Measures adopted to tighten security along the 7,200 km-long coastline will also be reviewed.

At the July 14 conference of chief ministers, Manmohan Singh had laid emphasis on revisiting the anti-insurgency strategy.

The meeting had decided to form unified commands in the four Maoist-affected states - Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal - by creating a unified command in each and also an extensive Rs.1,750 crore infrastructure package to counter the Leftist rebels.

Chidambaram had assured the states that the central government would assist them in deploying central paramilitary forces, sharing intelligence, funding the modernisation of police forces and providing logistics and other support.