This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7622341.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
India PM mulls tougher terror law India boosts security after bombs
(about 12 hours later)
Indian PM Manmohan Singh has said his government is considering legislation to strengthen laws to combat attacks by militant groups. India has revealed plans to upgrade its intelligence gathering ability following a spate of bombings.
Mr Singh's comments follow a series of recent blasts that killed at least 20 people and wounded about 90 in the capital Delhi. A new centre will be established to research surveillance and preventative measures and become a focus for counter-terrorism strategies.
Though police have issued sketches of three men they believe to be suspects, there have been no arrests. The government has been accused of failing to track down shadowy groups that set off bombs in four cities this year killing dozens of people.
Since late 2005, more than 400 people have died in bombings at Indian cities. The prime minister has said there were vast gaps in intelligence gathering.
India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party seeks the reinstatement of a tough anti-terrorism law it pushed when it was in power. Manmohan Singh said his government is considering legislation to strengthen laws to combat attacks by militant groups.
Mr Singh's comments follow a series of bomb blasts that killed at least 20 people and wounded about 90 in the capital, Delhi, over the weekend.
BOMB ATTACKS IN INDIA IN 2008 13 September: Five bomb blasts kill 18 in Delhi 26 July: At least 22 small bombs kill 49 in Ahmedabad25 July: Seven bombs go off in Bangalore killing two people 13 May: Seven bomb hit markets and crowded streets in Jaipur killing 63 Delhi bombs follow haunting scriptIn pictures: Delhi blasts
"We are actively considering legislation to further strengthen the substantive anti-terrorism law in line with the global consensus on the fight against terrorism," the prime minister said late on Wednesday.
"There is no question of government being soft on terrorism."
Although police have issued sketches of three men they believe to be suspects, there have been no arrests.
Since late 2005, more than 400 people have died in bombings in Indian cities.
India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party wants a tough anti-terrorism law it brought in when it was in power to be reinstated.
The governing Congress party scrapped the law saying it was misused to harass Muslims.The governing Congress party scrapped the law saying it was misused to harass Muslims.
Mr Singh told a meeting of state governors that the government was considering strengthening what he described as "substantive" existing laws to fight militant attacks.
"We are actively considering legislation to strengthen the substantive anti-terrorism law in line with the global consensus on the fight against terrorism," he said.
'Vast gaps''Vast gaps'
He said India's intelligence and security agencies have been successful in thwarting a number of militant attacks. Mr Singh said India's intelligence and security agencies have been successful in thwarting a number of militant attacks.
"But as the recent blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Delhi indicate, there are still vast gaps in intelligence. These need to be overcome," he said."But as the recent blasts in Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Surat and Delhi indicate, there are still vast gaps in intelligence. These need to be overcome," he said.
BOMB ATTACKS IN INDIA IN 2008 13 September: Five bomb blasts kill 18 in Delhi 26 July: At least 22 small bombs kill 49 in Ahmedabad25 July: Seven bombs go off in Bangalore killing two people 13 May: Seven bomb hit markets and crowded streets in Jaipur killing 63 class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7614994.stm">Delhi bombs follow haunting script class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7614412.stm">In pictures: Delhi blasts Mr Singh said the government had reports that "certain Pakistan-based groups are constantly seeking to set up new terrorist modules" in India. He said the government had reports that "certain Pakistan-based groups are constantly seeking to set up new terrorist modules" in India.
"This is a matter of utmost concern. We have increased vigilance on our borders. But in view of the growing involvement of local elements, this is not enough," he said."This is a matter of utmost concern. We have increased vigilance on our borders. But in view of the growing involvement of local elements, this is not enough," he said.
Separately, the federal cabinet met on Wednesday night to discuss ways of tackling militant attacks.
The government considered measures to strengthen anti-terror laws at the meeting, reports say.
A federal government panel has recommended tougher laws to fight attacks by militant groups.A federal government panel has recommended tougher laws to fight attacks by militant groups.
"We need a comprehensive anti-terror law, but there should be adequate safeguards," senior politician and panel chief, Veerappa Moily, said. A group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the bombs which went off in busy areas of Delhi.
Five bombs went off in busy areas of Delhi in the latest incident over the weekend.
Two of the blasts hit Connaught Place - a financial and commercial centre - while two more hit the upmarket shopping district of Greater Kailash.
A fifth ripped through a busy electronics and automobile components market.
An e-mail purportedly from a group calling itself the Indian Mujahideen claimed it carried out the attacks, adding: "Stop us if you can."
The same group has claimed responsibility for two other recent bomb attacks in Jaipur and Bangalore.