New Delhi

Blasts have similarities with previous ones: Patil

Guwahati: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday said serial blasts in Delhi had similarities with the previous ones, but he would not like to form any opinion at this stage without completion of the investigation. He rejected the contention that a tougher law would prevent such terrorist acts. He pointed out that even when a tougher law was there, terrorist attacks on Parliament and in Mumbai and Gujarat had taken place. Merely tough laws would not prevent terrorist attacks.

“Let us not make it a political issue. It is a human issue. If you take political stand, political replies will be given,” Mr. Patil said in an oblique reference to the Opposition parties accusing the government of failing to prevent terrorist activities.

The Minister, who was here to assess the flood situation in the State, was speaking to journalists at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi international airport before returning to Delhi.

Mr. Patil urged the States to increase the strength of the police force and strengthen the intelligence agencies instead of depending only on the Research and Analysis Wing and the Intelligence Bureau to prevent terrorist acts. He pointed out that there were only 14,000 police stations against 6.5 lakh villages in the country.

The Home Minister stressed the need for better coordination among the States on security matters and formation of a wing to ensure that.

He mooted revival of the ancient Kotwal system to prevent such terrorist acts.

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