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Need to develop data to pre-empt terrorist strikes

Devesh K. Pandey

With globalisation, terrorists have now a trans-national reach

NEW DELHI: National Security Guard Director-General Jyoti Krishan Dutt on Thursday called for international cooperation to combat the menace of terrorism.

Releasing the National Bomb Data Centre's "Bombshell" magazine on the opening of a two-day international seminar organised by NSG at Manesar near here in Haryana, Mr. Dutt said terrorism until recently was considered a regional phenomenon but with globalisation and advancement in science and technology, terrorists have now a trans-national reach and their operations have become increasingly lethal.

"Terrorists have organised themselves in terms of both support structure and target. They are getting sophisticated," said Mr. Dutt. While car bombs have emerged as a recent potent threat, in Jammu and Kashmir terrorists have moved from mobile phone detonation technique to use of multiple detonators. "The fight against terrorism requires enhanced national and international cooperation," he said, adding that there was need for developing data collection and intelligence analysis systems which would help pre-empt terrorist strikes.

NBDC Director Lalit Kapoor said there was a spurt in attacks by naxalites in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in the past few years.

"Chhattisgarh has witnessed an increase in bombing incidents from 51 in 2005 to 61 last year. In Jharkhand, 27 incidents of bombing were reported last year compared with 18 in 2005," he said. In most of the blasts, command wire mechanism was used for detonation of improvised explosive devices.

Drawing a pattern to the spread of naxal activities in the affected region, he said it was a real possibility that rail network would be their next target. Colonel Kapoor recommended ban on electronic detonators for commercial explosive use until stringent rules were in place to prevent their pilferage.

Aviation security expert Dr. T.V. Narayanan suggested five-layer security to prevent terrorist strikes at airports.

Australian Bomb Data Centre Director Terry Vincent informed the gathering of experts from the US, Russia, UK, Canada, Germany, Cambodia and the Philippines about the activities of the newly formed International Bomb Data Centre Working Group.

He said the Group, of which Indian bomb data centres are not a part yet, has been formed considering the requirement for a forum where the bomb data centres of various countries would be able to share their experience. Over 50 countries have either agreed in principle or have become members of the Group so far.

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