Bangalore: Director-General and Inspector-General of Police R. Sri Kumar on Wednesday said that six of the Deendar Anjuman activists, said to be involved in the serial church blasts in the city 10 years ago, were in Pakistan and the Interpol had issued a red corner alert for them.

Speaking at a national seminar on man-made disasters organised by the Directorate of Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services, here Mr. Sri Kumar said the six persons had attacked churches to create division between Hindus and Christians.

Expressing unhappiness over the inordinate delay in executing the orders of the courts to punish terrorists involved in many cases, he said that it was time to “come out of the slumber”. A special court had in November convicted 23 persons, including the six Pakistanis. Mr. Sri Kumar said there was no extradition treaty between India and Pakistan, but there were other ways to secure such persons.

Soft targets

B. Raman, former Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat, said that terrorists were choosing soft targets such as hospitals, fire stations, dams and power stations before striking at public places.

Quoting instances in Iraq, Israel and the recent attack in Mumbai, Mr. Raman said terrorists had been targeting hospitals and infrastructure to deprive citizens of basic help and facilities. In Ahmedabad also, they attacked a hospital. This, he said, was to create anger among the public against the democratically elected governments.

Lauding the efforts of the directorates, Mr. Raman said it was time to bring all public utility services under a single command. It helped in avoiding needless delay in taking up relief and rescue operations. Medical services, fire force and police should be able to utilise their potential, he added.

Former Governor of Nagaland Shyamal Datta inaugurated the seminar.

Jija Harisingh, Director-General and Commandant General, Home Guards, Civil Defence, Fire and Emergency Services gave an outline of the scope and objective of the seminar. U. Nisar Ahmed, Inspector-General of Police, welcomed the gathering.

P. Muniswamy, Deputy Commandant, proposed a vote of thanks.