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New Delhi, Mar 19 (UNI) As many as 197 militants have surrendered in Jammu and Kashmir in 2005 in the wake of the state government announcing a new policy to woo them into the mainstream, the Union Home Ministry has said.

Under the new policy of the J and K government announced on January 31, 2004, a surrendered militant will get a monthly stipend of Rs 2000 for a period of three years after surrender.

This is in addition to immediate grant of Rs 1.50 lakh to be kept in the shape of FDR in a bank in the name of the surrenderee which can be withdrawn after three years, subject to good behaviour.

Incentives are also being given for surrendered weapons as per prescribed rates and vocational training for self employment to those who desire to undergo such training.

The annual report of the Home Ministry for 2005-06 says that the violent incidents have come down in Jammu and Kashmir in 2005.

There were 1990 terrorist incidents in the state in 2005 as against 2565 incidents in 2004.

As many as 557 civilians were killed in 2005 compared to 707 last year.

The number of security force personnel killed has also declined in 2005 with a toll of 189, compared to 281 in 2004.

The number of terrorists killed in operations has also come down.

As many as 917 terrorists were killed in as compared to 976 during the previous year.

The report said the operations of the security forces over the last few months have achieved notable successes including neutralisation of a large number of senior commanders of all major terrorist outfits.

On militancy in the North East in 2005, the report said while the number of violent incidents has increased by eight per cent, killings of civilians came down by six per cent and security forces by 36 per cent as compared to the incidents and killings in 2004.

UNI SH RP KN1454