'Situation in state under control'

New Delhi, Apr 12: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir had started showing significant improvement, leading to increased flow of tourists and pilgrims.

''People are fed up with violence and yearn for peace. Local support for terrorist activities being sponsored from across the border is receding. The state's economy is on the upswing,''he said, while addressing a Conference of Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police on Internal Security and Law and order.

Referring to insurgency in the North Eastern states, he said the overall security situation in the region also remained under control.

Mr Patil said terrorist related incidents came down by 22 per cent, killings of civilians by 21 per cent and those of security personnel by 33 per cent in 2005 over 2004. In the first quarter of this year, the number of such incidents was lower by 24 per cent, and civilian casualties were down by 53 per cent and security forces lost by 32 per cent power personnel over the corresponding period of the last year.

Similarly, infiltration dropped by 54 per cent in 2005 over 2004.

Security forces foiled 49 infiltration bids liquidating 189 terrorists in 2005 compared to 43 infiltration attempts checked and 95 terrorists killed in 2004. In the first quarter of this year, only 30 infiltrators are reported to have crossed over to the country.

Referring to the peace initiatives launched by the Centre in Jammu and Kashmir, including discussions held by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with the All Party Hurriyat Conference and other groups, he said the Centre was using a multi-pronged policy to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

"Sustained counter operations are continuing against terrorirsts so as to restrain them from committing sensational acts. While fighting against terrorists, it is being ensured that least collateral damage is caused and human rights violations are minimal." In this context, he said a close monitoring of implementation of the reconstruction package of Rs 24,000 crore announced by the Prime Minister in November 2004 was being done to give a fillip to the state's economic development.

Mr Patil assured that the government was committed to taking forwardthe dialogue with all groups and different shades of opinion to bring about all round development in the state and resolve the problems faced by the people." On the situation in the North East-region, Mr Patil said through the number of violent incidents had increased by 8 per cent, killings of civilians had come down by six per cent and those of security forces by 37 per cent compared to 2004.

Today's conference was attended, among others, by National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, Home Secretary V K Duggal, Intelligence Bureau chief E S L Narasimhan and top officials from the Centre and states.

UNI