Terrorist 'infiltration' gone down says Shivraj Patil

New Delhi, July 26: Asserting that there has been no withdrawal of troops from Jammu and Kashmir, Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said the number of terrorist incidents in the state has gone down but there is still a certain degree of infiltration taking place through the land borders and sea routes.

''Nobody is saying that terrorism in Jammu-Kashmir has been contained,'' Mr Patil said during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha.

The number of terrorist incidents in the state in 2004 was 1442, in 2005 was 1085 and upto July 15, 2006 it had gone down to 910, Mr Patil said.

''Unsettled by these developments, terrorist outfits have, in desperation, resorted to escalated demonstrative acts of violence through hurling hand grenades, attacking soft targets including tourists and communalising violence in recent months,'' Mr Patil said.

Till June 30, 2006 an estimated 299 terrorists infiltrated from across the borders as compared to 92 during the same period last year.

In a reply to a question by BJP member Yashwant Sinha, Mr Patil said the fencing on the borders are being repaired wherever there is a need and generators are being used to electrify these. He said the army is looking after the maintenance of these special fences and no foreign companies are called for servicing these hi-tech, high- voltage fences when they need repair during snowfall when they are susceptible to breakdowns.

To a question from Mr Sinha on whether the Hurriyat had abjured violence, Mr Patil said ''Hurriyat has given the impression that they would like to discuss the issue (Kashmir).'' Replying to Congress member Dr Karan Singh's question, Mr Patil said the security of J and K is jointly looked after by the army, para-military forces and the state police under the unified command of the Chief Minister.

Dr Singh pointed out that the increase in infiltration levels will have a direct effect on the spurt in terrorist violence in the country. ''This is a matter of grave concern,'' he said.

He also said fences in winters becomes vulnerable and terrorists enter under the cover of heavy snow.

SP member Janeshwar Mishra asked what kind of security arrangements are there in J and K to which the Home Minister said the army is deployed on LOC and the security requirements of other areas are shared by para-military forces and state police.

Mr Patil admitted that certain problems did occur in the fences and assured the member that repairs are taking place.

UNI