Increase in communal incidents cause of concern: PM

New Delhi, Sep 8 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday expressed concern over an increase in the communal incidents in the country in the past few months and revival of ethnic tension.

Addressing the annual conference of state police chiefs in the capital, the prime minister said that there is a need for re-orienting police forces to effectively track the sentiments of the people and inter-community tensions as they rise.

"We also need to devise strategies to counter the propaganda that is carried out by new means of communication. Any measure to control the use of such media must be carefully weighed against the need for the freedom to express and communicate," he said.

Manmohan Singh said that controlling the organised crime and protecting the vulnerable, requires focused attention.