China's interest in Northeast insurgent groups must be probed: IB

Director of Intelligence Bureau Nechal Sandhu, the country's seniormost cop, today said the growing interest of China in insurgent groups in Northeast needs to be probed at the earliest.

Delivering his lecture at the three-day conference of the top police brass, Sandhu, a 1973 batch IPS officer, said there was "fresh evidence of intrusive interest of China in the affairs of Indian insurgent groups which needed to be reviewed at the earliest.

He acknowledged the proven investigation techniques of the police also needed a re-look on account of delay in solving terror cases.

Sandhu began by his speech at the three-day directors general and inspectors general Conference by saying "as we meet today, the spectre of terrorism haunts us" and July 13 (Mumbai blasts) and September seven (Delhi High Court blast) were a reminder of grave threat of terror.

Doing some plain-talking, Sandhu said Indian police apparatus has not been quick enough to change tactics and strategies to match up to the terrorists.

He said the proven investigation techniques may have to be abandoned and a new set of guideines for probing such cases needs to be developed at the earliest.

On Northeast, he said "we will review the impact in the region of continuing presence of (Northeastern insurgents groups) in Myanmar and to some extent in Bangladesh."

The Intelligence Bureau chief also listed Naxalism as grave threat to the country and said "it is causing us concern."