MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SHRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (i): A statement is laid on the Table of the House
STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY (a) TO (i) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 38 FOR ANSWER ON 06-07-2004.
(a) and (b): Yes Sir, Government intends to pursue a dialogue with all groups and with different shades of opinion in Jammu & Kashmir on a sustained basis, in consultation with the democratically elected State Government.
(c): The Government has been following a multi-pronged approach in dealing with terrorism and bringing in peace in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. The major prongs of the strategies, inter-alia, include (i) strengthening border management and pro-active action against terrorists with J&K (ii) accelerating the economic development and (iii) remaining open to pursue a dialogue with all groups and different shades of opinion in the State on a sustained basis, in consultation with the democratically elected State Government.
(d): During the first five months of the current year, the incidents of terrorist violence has gone down by 12% in comparison to the same period in the previous year.
(e) to (g): The comparative figures for the year 2003 and 2004 (up to June 15) as reported by the State Government are given below:-
Year 2003 Till June 15, 2004
Incidents 3401 1224 Civilians killed 795 328 Civilians injured 1546 757 Tourists killed - 5 Tourists injured - 17 CPMF Jawans killed 258 105 Jawans injured 814# 355# Militants killed 1494 455 Militants arrested 434 99
# = Includes personnel J&K Police, Special Police Officers and Village Defence Committee members.
(h): Central teams have been visiting the state frequently to review the security situation. Four visit were made after major incidents during this period. One visit by the Central team took place in 2003 while three such visits have taken place so far in 2004.
(i): The Government, jointly with the State Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach, to contain cross border terrorism particularly in Jammu & Kashmir, which includes, inter-alia, strengthening border management and multi-tiered and multi modal deployment along International Border/LOC and near the ever changing infiltration routes, construction of border fencing, use of improved technology, weapons and equipments by security forces, improved intelligence and operational coordination and synergising intelligence flow to check infiltration, pro-active action against the terrorists within the State etc.
The counter terrorism efforts are reviewed from time to time.
