Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday expressed concerns over the growing presence of non-state actors, fundamentalist groups and Leftwing extremists saying that such elements have further complicated matters to manage the security situation in the country.
Addressing a police chiefs' conference here, the Prime Minister said, “Policing in the country has become increasingly complex over the years.”
Expressing concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu & Kashmir, Dr Singh said, “Despite the curtailment of militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the public order dimension in the state has become a cause of serious concern.”
“We need to revisit standard operating procedures and crowd control measures to deal with public agitations with non-lethal, yet effective and focused measures,” he added.
The Prime Minister also stressed on “adopting non-lethal ways to manage the protests”.
Terming Naxalism as the biggest challenge which the country faces today, the Prime Minister said, “Much more needs to be done to meet the challenge of Naxalism.”
The Prime Minister concluded by appealing to the Maoists to abjure the path of violence and come to mainstream.
“We recognise that the Naxalites are our own people and ready to talk to them provided they abjure the path of violence,” said Dr Manmohan Singh.
The three-day conference was inaugurated by Home Minister P Chidmabaram Wednesday, who said the government hoped to find an "elusive starting point in Kashmir soon".
First Published: Thursday, August 26, 2010, 14:08