India will deal firmly with terrorism: Manmohan Singh

INDIA: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged to continue the fight against terrorism, which he said posed a big threat to India's integrity.

"Terrorism continues to pose a threat to our cohesiveness and national integrity," Singh said at a function to mark his government's second year in office.

"We will not compromise in our resolve to face it with courage, conviction and dertermination. There should be no doubt whatsoever on this matter," he said.

Singh's remarks came amidst a spiral of violence in the restive region of Indian-Kashmir.

Indian Kashmir's summer capital was under tight security following deadly attacks by Islamic militants ahead of a visit for peace talks by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Despite extra security already in place, one person was killed and 34 wounded in four grenade attacks by Islamic militants in Srinagar, police said.

Singh was due to arrive in the city Wednesday for two days of talks with political leaders linked to peace efforts in the restive region.

Moderate Muslim separatist politicians stayed away from a first round of talks in New Delhi in February. On Monday, the moderate faction of Kashmir's main separatist alliance, the Hurriyat or Freedom Alliance, again declined an invitation to take part.

"As far as the participation in the roundtable, Hurriyat considers that the crowd comprising of political hypocrites and even Ikhwanis (pro-government militia) with no agenda can hardly produce a result in terms of the permanent settlement of the Kashmir problem," Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, head of the separatist alliance, told reporters.

"Thus it was decided unanimously not to attend," he said, adding that the group had no objection to talking to Singh separately as they did in New Delhi on May 3. In New Delhi, Singh said he was not surprised by the Hurriyat's response to his invitation.

"It did not come to me as a surprise. They want to meet me separately. Some day they will realise that standing apart will benefit none," Singh was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency.

The Hurriyat's rebuff came after at least seven people died and 22 were wounded Sunday when armed rebels, opposed to peace efforts, attacked hundreds of people at a political event in Srinagar, forcing authorities to boost security.

"We are making security arrangements for the event," A.P. Maheshwari, a senior federal police officer, said. "We have increased patrolling."

Both local and federal police set up check points across the city and were frisking people and searching cars for explosives. Some roads in Srinagar have been sealed ahead of the visit forcing locals to take longer routes.

Police were also deployed in strength around state-owned radio, television and telecommunication centers.

Despite the extra security, one man was killed and eight policemen and 26 civilians were wounded in four grenade attacks Monday by Islamic militants, police said. Three of the wounded were in critical condition.

The hardline Islamic rebel group Jaish-e-Mohammed claimed responsibility for the grenade attacks, while the al Mansurain and Lashkar-e-Toiba claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack.

New Delhi, Tuesday, AFP