Infiltration has not reduced in Kashmir, insurgency down in North East: Chidambaram

New Delhi, Feb.19 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said infiltration has not reduced from across the border in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, but militancy has, and added that insurgency attacks in the north-eastern part of the country has also come down.

Interacting with the Women's Press Corps in the capital, Chidambaram said: "In Kashmir, there is a low level of incidents, there is infiltration, less security toll. Development, unfortunately, has not been as satisfactory as we would have liked."

On the situation prevailing in the northeastern states, the Home Minister said: "There is a low level of casualty. We have neutralized many militants. Five militant groups are in talks with the Indian Government. We have eliminated two militant groups."

"Our policy is to give more control to the Jammu and Kashmir Police, and this has paid dividends, resulting in decline in militancy in the state," said Chidambaram.

He further went on to say: "Insurgents are trying to destabilise the quiet talks, the reconstruction process initiated by the Prime Minister, and prevent the existence of a stable government in Jammu and Kashmir."

Commenting on the recent stone pelting incidents in the state, Chidambaram said: "It happens when there is public response to specific incident, like when there is negligence on part of authorities resulting in deaths. But no stone-pelting incident is reported when a terrorist is killed. Any incident of excessive police action triggers reaction."

On suggestions that the government is open to people from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir coming to India, Chidambaram replied in the affirmative.

"It is correct simply because they are Indians as POK is a part of India. There is process of debriefing, screening and integrating them with the society," he said.

He further added that in the late 70s, the CRPF had raised a battalion to integrate them in society. (ANI)