Pakistan state actors behind attacks in India: Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for the National Conference of Director Generals of Police at the Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Saturday. PIC/PTI

Guwahati: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing the 49th All India Directors general of police (DGPs) and Inspectors general of police (IGPs) conference on Saturday, said that state actors - the leaders - from Pakistan are playing a role in destabilising India.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrives for the National Conference of Director Generals of Police at the Administrative Staff College in Guwahati on Saturday. PIC/PTI

While mentioning the gun battle that erupted on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia sector, he said Pakistan's claim that "non-state actors are behind such incidents is not true".

Eleven people - four civilians, three soldiers and four militants - were killed in the fierce gunfight that ended on Friday.

Rajnath Singh also raised the Islamic State (IS) issue at the conference and described the terror group as a "major security threat". "We are concerned about the fact that Indian youngsters are getting drawn to Islamic State (IS)," he said.

The home minister said Al-Qaida is a serious threat and the central government has not taken it lightly.

"There may be many terrorist organisations in the world but the government will not allow them to get a foothold in India," he said.

He also added that Muslims fought for India's freedom like Hindus did and that Al-Qaida won't succeed in their motives.

The BJP-led government has earmarked a sum of R50 crore for the establishment of a National Police Memorial in the country's capital, Singh added. He also announced the allocation of another sum of R51 crore for medals to all police officers on the occasion of the Indian Police completing 150 years of its formation.

"A large number of police personnel have made the supreme sacrifice for the security of the country over the past several decades. But there is no police memorial in the national capital where we can pay our respect to those brave souls. The government has decided to establish a National Police Memorial in New Delhi soon for which a sum of R50 crore has been earmarked," Singh said.

Finally, talking about the north-east, the Union Home Minister admitted that there was lack of development in the region. However, he added, "Let me assure you, we are committed towards a comprehensive development of this region."

Singh urged all the northeastern states to fill up vacancies in the police forces and assured them of all possible help.