NEW DELHI, Nov 21:
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir continued to be a challenge.
“This year, there has been an increase in targeted attacks on security forces resulting in nearly 50 personnel losing their lives,’’, Mr Shinde said in his opening remarks at the three-day conference of DGPs/IGPs that began here.
“These attacks indicate a nefarious game plan hatched across the border to demoralise our security forces and demonstrate to the people of J&K that the capabilities of militants remain undiminished.
“There have also been violent actions and ceasefire violations along the border, particularly in Poonch district of Jammu region.
“Our security forces have responded in right measure and succeeded in neutralising several militant commanders and eliminating 35 terrorists on the LoC this year.”
Mr Shinde said security forces, however, cannot afford to lower their guard, particularly in view of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections next year.
“A fine balance needs to be maintained by them between firm handling of terrorism and adequate restraint in public order situations.
“This is important to limit civilian casualties and deny space to separatist elements for fomenting further disturbances.”
Mr Shinde said the people of Jammu and Kashmir remain undeterred by such threats from across the border and the huge voter turnout in the recent Panchayat elections bears adequate testimony to this.
“Peace in the last few years has paid huge dividends in terms of increased economic activities and record arrival of domestic and international tourists.
“The Government of India is committed to the development of J&K by focusing on infrastructure projects such as laying of a new rail line across the Pir Panjal range.
“Various employment generation schemes such as Udaan and Himayat are also being vigorously pursued,” he added.
He said attempts are being made to vitiate communal harmony, especially in the States of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.
While all these States have witnessed a rising trend in the number of communal incidents this year, the most disturbing communal clashes took place in Muzaffarnagar and its adjoining areas in Western UP, Mr Shinde said.
“More than 50 people lost their lives and nearly 50,000 were displaced as a result of violence.
“In most of these States, the triggering factors for communal incidents were trivial in nature and could have been nipped in the bud by effective, prompt and unbiased administrative action,” he said
Mr Shinde said it is essential for all district administrations to put in place an early warning system for immediate detection of communal issues.
“For this, local administrations should maintain constant engagement with all communities, particularly in disturbance prone areas.
“I am happy to learn that this Conference would devote considerable time to evolve a strategy in this regard,” he said.
He also voiced concern over Left Wing extremism which he said remains another major threat to “our national security”.
He said despite reduction in violence levels, naxals have continued to target Security Forces and those reposing faith in the democratic polity.
“The attack on political leaders in Chhattisgarh and the killing of an SP in Dumka district of Jharkhand are instances of Naxal brutality.
“Central and State Security Forces, however, have achieved notable successes in restricting their areas of influence, denying them fresh recruits and eroding their top leadership.
“There has also been a drop in the casualty figure of Security Forces from 111 last year to 97 this year. On the other hand, the number of Naxals killed has gone up to 97 from 71 last year for the same period.
“I take this opportunity to congratulate the Security Forces for their outstanding role in ensuring peaceful polling in the recently held Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.
“The high voter turnout has sent the right message to the Naxalites that common people of the area have reposed faith in our democratic polity,” he said.
As regards social media, Mr Shinde said though the Government is a strong votary of freedom of expression, the mischievous use of social media needs to be controlled.
“As we move along the path of modernisation, newer challenges emerge. Government has succeeded in increasing the density and spread of internet connectivity right down to village level.
“This has made us prone to sophisticated cyber crimes and cyber attacks,” Mr Shinde said.
“Extensive networking of computer systems, particularly in sensitive areas has increased our vulnerability to such attempts from hostile elements. Security Agencies and Police forces would need to develop expertise for a coordinated response to counteract these problems,” he added.
He said, “Last year, social media was exploited by vested interests to generate fear amongst the people of the North East in Bangalore, which resulted in their exodus in large numbers.”
“More recently, the Muzaffarnagar riots were fanned by similar misuse. Once again, I am glad that this Conference has taken up these issues as part of its agenda, to discuss in detail and find a way forward,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the change will start taking place with the elections to the Lok Sabha.
“Democracy is the only way that provides resolution to problems and it is unfortunate that in Jammu and Kashmir every other method of dubious merit has been tried, but democratic processes were always subverted,” he said.
About the importance of the members that are sent to the Parliament, Sayeed said the people of the State have now an opportunity and a challenge to utilise the next Lok Sabha elections for making the rest of the country “aware of the problems, that we face and secure our rights as a special status state within the union”.
He said till now the MPs elected by the people here have generally being subsumed by electoral politics of the ruling parties, but now the PDP will try to send with the support of the people strong, sincere and dedicated persons to the highest seat of democracy in the country. (UNI)
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