The government today said Sikh militant groups from abroad are trying to resurrect militancy in Punjab.
"Available report suggest that Sikh militant groups especially those based in abroad, are continuing their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab," minister of state for home affairs Ajay Maken informed the Lok Sabha.
"A close watch is maintained on the activities of various groups known to have been engaged in trying to foment terrorist activities in Punjab," he said in a written reply.
The minister said, "the government has adopted an integrated approach to counter such attempts, inter alia, include sustained vigilance along the borders, strengthening of mechanisms for intelligence gathering and sharing, modernisation and upgradation of police and security forces with advanced and sophisticated weapons."
In addition, pro-Khalistan terrorist outfits namely, Babbar Khalsa International, International Sikh Youth Federation, Khalistan Commando Force and Khalistan Zindabad Force continue to be listed as Terrorist Organisations in the schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act, 2004, he said.
In reply to another question related to anti-national activities being carried out along the Indo-Nepal border, Maken said, "there are indications and incidental reports that the India-Nepal border have been misused by anti-India elements for creating false propaganda and for encouraging trans-border criminal activities."
"The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has been deployed all along the Indo-Nepal border to check illegal instances and to stop cross border crimes," the minister said.
