"We are not prepared to countenance a situation in which the safety and security of our citizens can be violated with impunity by terrorists," the Prime Minister said.

“It is essential to immediately set up a Federal Investigation Agency to go into terrorist crimes of this kind and ensure that the guilty are brought to book," he said.

He said the government would take "a number of measures to strengthen the hands" of police and investigation authorities. "We will curb the flow of funds to suspect organisations. We will restrict the entry of suspects into the country," Singh said.

"We will go after these individuals and organisations and make sure that every perpetrator, organiser and supporter of terror, whatever his affiliation or religion may be, pays a heavy price for these cowardly and horrific acts against our people," he said.

He said police reforms would be attended to in an urgent and serious manner "so that the law and order authorities can work united, effectively and in a determined manner to tackle such threats to national integrity."

On Mumbai attacks, he said the "well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks, probably with external linkages, were intended to create a sense of panic by choosing high- profile targets and indiscriminately killing foreigners."

Paying glowing tributes to the police officers and men who were killed in the attacks, he said "I salute the courage and patriotism of the police officers, including the Chief of the Anti-Terror Squad Hemant Karkare and men who have laid down their lives in fighting these terrorists."

... contd.