India remains “vulnerable” to terrorism, says Chidambaram

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday said that India remained “vulnerable” to terrorism as new groups were suspected to be behind some terror attacks that took place in recent years.

Addressing the Chief Ministers on internal security here, Chidambaram said:”I must caution you that there is no let up in the attempts to infiltrate into India from across the India- Pakistan border. Besides, there are a number of modules operating within the country and new groups have raised their heads that are suspected to be behind some terrorist attacks that took place in recent years.”

“We cannot shy away from naming these groups or exposing their designs. Whatever their religious affiliations, I have no hesitation in condemning every group that resorts to terror as a means of advancing dubious religious causes or fundamentalist goals,” he added.

“Our policy in this regard is clear: every terrorist and every terrorist group will be pursued and brought before the law and punished,” he said.

“At the end of 2010, 47 major terrorist cases were under investigation or trial; 11 new cases were entrusted to the National Investigation Agency in 2010; and, last year, convictions were obtained inane major case,” he added.

He further said that in 2010, there was one major incident in Pune on February 13. There was another incident in Varanasi on December 7 last year that “caused, thankfully little damage,” he said.

Chidambaram said in both cases, specific intelligence was given to the two state governments.

He said it would be unrealistic to expect that intelligence could be any more specific than what was gathered and shared in the two cases.

“I am sure you will agree with me that the two incidents of terror in a period of 26 months mark a significant improvement in the situation,” he added. (ANI)