Overall internal security under control in 2006

New Delhi, Dec 31: Barring a few major terror strikes at Varanasi,Mumbai and Malegaon, the overall internal security situation remainedunder control during 2006.

The level of violence in Jammu and Kashmir continued to show adeclining trend. The security situation in the North Eastern Statesshowed signs of improvement. The overall Naxal violence was containedduring the year.

According to figures available with the Home Ministry, as many as21 Pakistan's ISI- backed espionage modules were neutralised and 57ISI-backed terrorist modules busted during the year.

As part of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) under the compositedialogue process with Pakistan, Poonch-Rawalakot bus service wasflagged off in June this year.

In a bid to find peace in Kashmir, Prime Minister Manmohan Singhheld discussions with All Party Hurriyat Conference, People'sConference and JKLF, besides holding a Round Table Conference in Delhiand another in Srinagar.

As a follow-up to the Prime Minister's talks with various groups,51 people, detained under the J and K Public Safety Act, 1978 werereleased.

Honorarium for Special Police Officers has been enhanced to Rs36,000 per annum from Rs 18,000 with effect from September this year.

As part of the rehabilitation of the Kashmiri Pandits who arestaying in camps at Jammu, 5242 two-roomed tenements at a cost of Rs185 crore are being constructed for accommodating them.

Though there was improvement in the overall security situation inNorth Eastern states, the level of violence has gone up in Asom andNagaland due to increased activities of United Liberation Front ofAssam (ULFA) and the factional clashes between the National SocialistCouncil of Nagaland led by Isak-Muivah and Khaplang.

However, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh recorded a decline in violence.

In Meghalaya, the violence has been contained and Mizoram and Sikkim continued to be peaceful.

During the year, several rounds of talks were held with the ULFAmediators, but the exercise did not help bring the ULFA leaders to havedirect talks with New Delhi. Continued extortion by ULFA cadres led tothe Centre suspending ceasefire and resuming operations against thepredominant insurgent group in Asom in October.

Likewise, the Group of Ministers led by Oscar Fernandes hadengaged the National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSCN (IM) leaders ina few rounds of Naga talks in Amsterdam.

However, there are indications that some progress is expected inNaga talks in the new year. NSCN General Secretary Muivah is already inIndia to meet the Prime Minister and other political leaders as part ofthe efforts to end a six-decade insurgency in Nagaland.

The government renewed the ceasefire agreement with NSCN (IM),NSCN(K), United Peoples Solidarity (UPDS), Dimah Halam Dagrh (DHD),ANVC and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). In general, theNaxal situation in the country had improved as compared to the previousyear. But Chhattisgarh continued to be worst hit by Naxalism. In fact,2006 saw Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh going up.

With a change in the internal security perceptions, the HomeMinistry has earmarked an additional Rs 100 crore under the PoliceModernisation Scheme for the Naxal-affected states for purchase ofde-mining equipment, latest telecommunication equipment and modernweaponary in vulnerable police stations. The year saw the birth of theanti-Naxal civilian movement called "Salwa Judum" in Chhattisgarh.

An Inter-Ministerial Group has been constituted to essentiallyreview the implementation of Centrally-sponsored schemes undertakenparticularly in Naxal-affected areas.

An Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by the Home Minister andcomprising some Union Ministers and Chief Ministers has been set up toclosely monitor the spread of Naxalism and evolve effective strategiesto deal with the problem. Recently, an anti-Naxal Cell headed by anAdditional Secretary has been set up in the Home Ministry with a viewto ensuring periodic review and close monitoring of the Action Plansdrawn up by the States to deal with the Naxal problem.

A major initiative during the year was modernisation of the statepolice forces with the budget for the same being Rs 1,100 crore during2006-07. The focus has been on upgrading the standards of metropolitanpolicing and strengthening the critical police infrastructure in theseven mega cities of Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad,Bangalore and Hyderabad.

A meeting of the Chief Ministers held yesterday decided to bringin amendments to the archaic Police Act which was enacted during theBritish rule in 1861. While opposing several proposals made by theSupreme Court, especially with regard to setting up of a state-levelSecurity Commission and a fixed tenure for police personnel, themeeting has decided to amend the Police Act by incorporating some ofthe suggestions made by the apex court and also the recommendations ofthe Soli Sorabjee Committee on Police reforms.

A Core Committee constituted to review VIP security issues has finalised its report.

A modernisation plan for the seven Central Para-Military forceswith an outlay of Rs 4,185 crore has been implemented during the yearto equip the forces with 5.56 mm INSAS Rifles, bullet-proof jackets,night vision devices, AK-47 assault rifles, bullet-proof vehicles,various types of communication and surveillance equipment and varioustype of ammunition.

With a view to strengthening the internal security scenario,Government approved raising of 79 battalions which includes 45Battalions in the CPFs and 34 India Reserve Battalions. Cadres of CISFand CRPF have been restructured for improved effectiveness.

Nearly 10,000 posts have been added to the CRPF for meeting theneeds of internal security and about 9,500 posts to the CISF. As manyas 22 Battalions are being added to the ITBP to ensure better rotationand more diversified exposure to the new challenges of internalsecurity. The Recruitment Scheme of Constables in CPFs has been revisedso as to provide more job opportunities to youth of border States andmilitancy-affected areas.

It may be recalled that the CPFs played a significant role inpeaceful conduct of Assembly elections in Bihar, Jharkhand, Haryana,Asom, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Union Territory ofPuducherry.

A long pending need of an Act to administer Assam Rifles in thepresent day context has been fulfilled with the passing of a new AssamRifles Act which repealed the old Assam Rifles Act, 1941. The SashastraSeema Bal Bill, 2006 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 28, butit was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary StandingCommittee on Home Affairs for examination and report.

A major initiative on the Border security front was the fencing of2,435 km along the Indo-Bangla border which has a total of 3,286.87 km.A total of 277 km along the Indo-Bangla border has been provided floodlighting.

The work of construction of 1,902 Km. of fencing and 1,831 km offlood lighting has been completed out of 2,007 Km and 1,989 Kmsanctioned respectively along the India-Pakistan border.

The Government has decided to undertake phase-wise construction of27 roads links, totaling 608 km in the border areas along theIndia-China border in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarachal,Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, at an estimated cost of Rs 912 crore.

The Government has also approved a proposal for setting up theLand Ports Authority of India for overseeing the construction,management and maintenance of Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) atidentified entry points on the land borders of the country.

One of the major decisions of the Home Ministry during the yearwas to issue long-term tourist visa to nationals of 18 countries forfive years' duration with a 90-day stay permission. Detailed guidelineshave been issued simplifying the procedures for grant of visa to theChinese.

UNI