IndiaPost.com - Wake up to new age terror, Patil tells states

NEW DELHI: Emphasising that new age terror was a grave problem to contend with, Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Wednesday said police could not afford to lag behind and had to adopt newer methods and approaches to combat the threat.

“It is becoming obvious that more sophisticated weapons and devices may be used by terrorists. They are likely to use modern technologies in carrying out terrorist activities,” Patil said while inaugurating a three-day conference of Directors General of Police and Inspectors General of Police here. While refusing to name any place directly, Patil sounded a dire warning, saying, “Religious places can be attacked, the police may become their targets.”

He said terror groups may also target politicians and important persons and this therefore required preventive measures. Sleeper cells may be found in mega cities. They can become active when needed by them. Fake currency may be used to fund terrorism.

Over the next three days, police chiefs from across the country will discuss issues pertaining to national security, left wing extremism, the security situation in the northeastern states, emerging threats to VVIP security, new generation crimes and economic intelligence. Patil said new technologies were becoming available to criminals to commit crimes with ease and with fewer risks. He urged police chiefs to make use of new ideas, equipment and technologies to counter the dangers.

“Large volumes of funds are invested in developmental activities. Without a sense of security prevailing in the states, investment is not going to be done in any part of our country by entrepreneurs. Development needs security and security needs development. They should go hand-in-hand,” Patil said.