Radicalisation in the Northeast may lead to terrorism: Rajnath Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh described religious radicalisation in the Northeastern states as a serious security threat and said if not checked in time, it could lead to terrorism. The Home Minister, yesterday, reviewed the security situation in the Northeast with chief secretaries and DGPs of the states of the region in New Delhi. 

The meeting was also attended by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and other top security officials. Mr Singh also expressed concern over proliferation of illegal arms and asked the top officers to launch a sustained campaign against arms smugglers. 

He said illegal firearms, narcotics and fake Indian currency notes were being smuggled into the country from across the international border abutting the Northeast.The Minister also said there is need to set up more police stations in the border areas as these will check cross-border crimes and bring a sense of security to the people who live in these remote areas. 

He also asked police



chiefs of the Northeastern states to pay special attention to the low conviction rates in the region, saying if the trend continues, people's faith in the criminal justice system will erode. 

He said, in some states of the Northeast, prosecution in criminal cases and conviction rate is very poor. he said, in one state, the conviction rate is just 5 per cent against the all India rate of 86 per cent. 

The home minister, however, noted there has been significant improvement in the security situation in the Northeast in the last few years and most of the areas are now free from insurgency and militants. 

Mr Singh Singh said this had been made possible because of effective counter-insurgency operations, and responsive, development oriented governance, besides improved relations with neighbouring countries.He said government has taken a number of initiatives to enhance road, rail and air connectivity of North-East region to ensure speedy development of the region.