Attacks perpetrated with help of external linkages: PM

Here is a transcript of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address aired on CNBC-TV18.

Dear Citizens,

The terror attacks that took place in Mumbai last night and today leading to the loss of precious lives, injuries to many others have deeply shocked the nation. I strongly condemn these acts of senseless violence against innocent people including guests from foreign countries. I offer my deepest condolences to the families and sympathies to those who are injured the government will take all measures to look after the well being of the affected families including their medical treatment.

The well-planned and well-orchestrated attacks have been done with the help of external linkages intended to create a sense of panic by choosing high-profile targets indiscriminately killing innocent foreigners. I salute the courage and patriotism of the police officers including the chief of the ATS Shri Hemant Karkare who and other men who had laid down their lives in fighting these terrorists.

I assure the country that we will attempt in urgent and serious manner to police reform so that the law and order authorities can work united and effectively and in a determined manner to tackle such threats to national integrities. We are not prepared to counter a situation that in which the safety and security of our citizens to be violated with impunity by the terrorists.

It is evident that a group which carried out these attacks based outside the country had come with single minded determinations to create havoc in the commercial capital of the country. We will take strongest possible measures to ensure that there is no repetition of such terrorist acts.

We are determined to take whatever measures that is necessary to ensure the safety and security of our citizens. The National Security Act will be implied to deal with situations of this kind.

Existing laws will be tightened to ensure that there are no loopholes available to terrorist to escape the clutches of the law.

Most importantly, it is essential to immediately setup a federal investigative agency to go into terrorist crimes of this kind and ensure that the guilty are brought to book. We will take up strongly with our neighbours that the use of their territory for launching attacks on us will not be tolerated and that there would be cost to suitable measures have not taken by them.

We will take number of measures to strengthen the hands of our police and intelligence authorities, we will curb the flow of funds to suspect organisation, we will restrict the entry of suspect into the country, we will go after these individuals and organisation and make sure that every perpetrator, organiser and supporter of terror whatever his affiliation or religion maybe pays a heavy price for this cowardly and horrific acts against our people.

In the hour of tragedy I appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony so that the enemies of our country do not succeed in their nefarious design. All concerned authorities are on alert and will deal with any attempt to disturb public order. I am confident that the people of India will rise unitedly to face this grave challenge to the nation's security and integrity.