New Delhi

Describing the situation in Kashmir as a "cause of serious concern", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said "non-lethal ways should be followed to manage protests". Addressing the second-day session of the 45th conference of director generals of police and other senior security officals in New Delhi, the prime minister said: "We need to train our police forces more effectively." 

Reiterating that the Maoists "are our own people", Manmohan Singh said the government was ready to hold dialogue if they abjured violence. He added that much more had to be done to combat Maoist violence. 

Referring to cross-border terrorism, the prime minister said the "the growing presence of non-state actors have worsened matters". 

He said policing had become more complex over the years. 

The three-day conference was inaugurated by Home Minister P Chidmabaram on Wednesday, who said the government hoped to find an "elusive starting point in Kashmir soon".