Saturday, October 29 2005 19:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Palatana (South Tripura): On his first visit to Tripura, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (Oct 29, 2005) accused some agencies of foreign Governments and other 'inimical elements' of helping insurgent groups in anti-national activities and giving refuge to such groups.

"Some agencies, associated with foreign Governments and other elements inimical to us, have also been assisting such insurgent groups in their anti-national activities," he said without naming any country.

Laying the foundation stone of a Rs 4,000 crore gas-based power plant to be set up by the ONGC-Tripura Power Company Pvt Ltd, Singh said there were instances of extremist groups taking shelter in the territories of neighboring countries.

The Prime Minister's comments came in the wake of an offer by Bangladesh during Indo-Bangla talks in New Delhi yesterday that Indian officials could visit the neighboring country and see for themselves if there were any militant camps.

Singh said, "The fencing work along the Indo-Bangladesh border is progressing well. This should further bring down insurgent activities in Tripura".

"I am aware that Tripura has been facing the problem of extremism with some misguided youth taking to the path of violence," he said.

The Prime Minister, however, expressed hope that the problem has been reduced to a great extent and the Center would provide all support in the state's effort to bring back the misguided youth to the mainstream.

The Prime Minister also announced that the Center had taken up a number of infrastructure projects to improve road and rail connectivity in Tripura.

He said the Center had approved the Kumarghat-Agartala railway link involving a cost of Rs 700 crore.

Singh said the power plant, to be operational in 2008, would bring economic progress in the state.