Centre, State Govts working on a multi-pronged approach to combat terrorism
Despite several confidence building measures (CBMs) between India and Pakistan at different levels, the latter continued to support and sponsor terrorism in the border State and the levels of terrorist violence is inextricably linked to the levels of successful infiltration from across the border.
This has been stated in the latest annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India that has been released recently. "The levels of terrorist violence and encounters in the hinterland of J&K are inextricably linked to the levels of successful infiltration from across the border", says the report.
However, the report further elaborates that Security Forces (SFs) maintained better domination along the Line of Control (LoC) and with the result the levels of infiltration had come down considerably. "This had a direct bearing on the situation in the Valley and levels of incidents of terrorist violence had declined from 488 in year 2010 to 340 in 2011".
The Government of India in tandem with the State Government, has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross border infiltration, which, inter-alia includes strengthening of border management and multi-tiered and multi-modal deployment along the International Border/ Line of Control and near the ever changing infiltration routes, construction of border fencing.
"Several measure have been initiated from better weaponry, improved technology for security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination; and synergizing intelligence flow to check infiltration and pro-active action against terrorists within the State", the report says.
The Government has also adopted various counter terrorism strategies to neutralize the efforts and capabilities of militants to disturb peace in the State. The Government has also encouraged policies to mainstream the youth and discourage the local youth from joining militancy.
Dwelling further, the reports states that the security situation is being continuously monitored and reviewed by the Chief Minister in the Unified Headquarter/ Command with senior representatives of the State Government, Army, Central Armed Police Force and other security agencies. "The MHA also closely and continuously monitors the security situation in tandem with the State Government and the Ministry of Defence", the report says.
The focus of Government has been to proactively take suitable measures by all the SFs to reduce infiltration of terrorist from across the border; and to identify, locate and apprehend the terrorists who may have crossed over; as also their local associates.
Appreciating efforts of the State Government in conducting Panchayat elections, the MHA report says, "the 17 phase Panchayat elections, which were conducted after nearly two decades were landmark elections and overall, the elections were peaceful".
In 2011, there was a perceptible decline in the number of terrorist incidents and civilian and SFs casualties compared to the last year. The year witnessed a 30% decrease in the number of terrorist incidents and 34% and 52% decrease in civilian and SFs fatalities respectively to the year 2010. Since the inception of militancy in J&K, 13,846 civilians and 4807 Security Forces (SF) personnel have lost their lives. The number of security forces killed declined from 69 in 2010 to 33 in 2011 whileas the number of terrorist killed declined from 232 in 2010 to 100 in 2011. One hundred terrorists were also neutralized during the year 2011.
To address the growing concerns along the Indo-China border in the State, the MHA reports says, "the situation arising out of poor road connectivity which has hampered the operational capability of the border guarding forces, deployed along the border, the Government had decided to undertake phase-wise construction of roads in border areas in Jammu and Kashmir".
To support the State Government in its initiatives, the Central Government has been making available Central Armed Police Forces and helping to strengthen the State Police and reimbursing expenditure being incurred on a variety of security related measures. These inter-alia, expenditure on carriage of Constabulary, material supplies, rent of accommodation, honorarium to Special Police Officers, Civic Action Programme, air-lift charges, raising cost of India Reserve Battalions, transport, boarding and lodging, alternate accommodation for Security Forces, etc.
"The total amount reimbursed from 1989 till date under the SRE expenditure is nearly Rs 3500 crores. During the current financial year a sum of Rs 200 crores has been reimbursed to J&K Government till December, 2011", the report says.
As part of relief measures for victims of militancy under PM's package, a sum of Rs 100 crore has been released to the State Government from the budget head, Security Related Expenditure (Relief & Rehabilitation) in three installments to settle 2000 militancy related pending compassionate appointment case by way of providing cash compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next-of-kins (NoKs) of the civilians killed in militancy related violence. On request of the State Government, the Government of India has further approved the extension of this scheme.
The Scheme of 'Mordernisation of State Police Force (MPF) is being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs for capacity building of the State Police Forces, especially for meeting the emerging challenges to internal security in the form of terrorism. "Jammu and Kashmir and eight North Eastern States have been categorized as 'A' category states, which shall receive 100% Central funding for this purpose respectively", the report says.
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