“Hopefully, this will lead to an improvement in economic and security situation in these states,” Dr. Manmohan Singh said.

Endorsing the concern expressed by North-Eastern chief ministers over lack of development in the region, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has announced setting up of a special task force to study the specific problems of hill states, including those in the North-East. Addressing the Chief Ministers Conference on Internal Security, Dr Singh said development and security were critically inter-dependent and announced setting up of a task force to study the specific problems of hill states, including those in the North-East.

“Hopefully, this will lead to an improvement in economic and security situation in these states,” the Prime Minister said.

Chief Ministers from the North-East had earlier cited lack of development as the primary reason for internal insecurity in the region and demanded massive funds from the Centre to overcome the problem.

The problems of northeastern states and Jammu and Kashmir are unique as these states suffer from poor infrastructure and communication facilities. It has been our sincere attempt to see that these states too can benefit from our booming economy, Dr Singh said

He admitted that the above states had “vulnerabilities” on the internal security front and there were also many regional and tribal demands, which needed to be addressed systematically.

“We need to enforce the rule of law and create a respect for the state apparatus. We need much better leadership at all levels so that militancy is curbed and people feel secure,” Dr Singh added.

Inadequate, ill-equipped, ill-trained and poorly motivated personnel cannot take on the naxal extremism who are increasingly better equipped and organised, the Prime Minister pointed out and called for filling vacancies in police as a matter of priority.

He asked the states to improve surveillance and preventive system to reduce the probability of terror attacks which were increasingly focusing on soft targets like religious and public places and transport. He also stressed the need for improving intelligence machinery to prevent terror incidents.

This required better coordination between the Central and state agencies, apart from better leadership, to resolve to tackle these challenges. He also stressed the need for improving policing capabilities.

Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh exhorted the region’s political leadership to buck up and curb militancy to ensure that the people feel safe. In his hard-hitting speech on militancy in the North-East, Dr Singh minced no words when he said, “We need much better leadership at all levels so that militancy is curbed and people feel secure.” “Extortion seems to be a frequent occurrence (in North-East). We need to put an end to this. We need to enforce the rule of law and create a respect for the state apparatus. National considerations and requirements should take overriding priority,” the Prime Minister said.

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