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Complete text of Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's statement in the Lok Sabha in response to a calling attention motion on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, following the killing of 17 Hindu villagers on Saturday.
Members are well aware that terrorist groups in Jammu and Kashmir have continuously showed total disregard for the yearning for peace and normalcy on the part of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and did not respond positively to the government's unilateral Ramzan peace initiative.
Following the withdrawal of non-initiation of combat operations, the security forces have stepped up operations against the terrorists. Significant success has been achieved in these operations, with the number of terrorists killed in June being 217 and in July being 233.
In an effort to divert this pressure terrorists have been resorting to high visibility acts of violence in J&K.
During this period, terrorists have carried out such attacks on innocent civilians at Sheshnag Amarnath Yatri Camp on July 21, two separate incidents of killing in Doda - Kishtwar area on July 21 and 22, a third incident in the same general area of Doda-Kishtwar on August 4, and indiscriminate firing on innocent people at Jammu Railway Station on August 7.
The objectives of the militants in carrying out such attacks appear to include the following:
To stretch the security forces by forcing them to provide protection in more and more areas thereby hoping to blunt present thrust and momentum of counter - terrorism operation in J&K.
To create a communal divide with possible repercussions not only in J and K but also in the rest of the country.
To strike terror among the common people.
To force minorities to flee to safer places thereby giving the terrorists space for their activities to be carried out freely.
To attract media attention both nationally and internationally.
The government is determined to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists and their mentors across the border and not to let the counter-insurgency grid be thinned out. Nor would we reduce the anti-infiltration posture of our security forces. We remain committed to take all possible steps for the protection of remote, scattered and minority populations in the state of J&K.
My colleague, Shri I D Swami along with the special secretary J&K affairs in my ministry visited Srinagar and Sheshnag on July 22 to assess the security situation in the state and held detailed discussions with the governor, J&K and security forces and state government functionaries. Shri Swami again visited Jammu on July 23 along with Shri Chamanlal Gupta, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, and a senior official of the ministry of home affairs and reviewed security.
I D Swami further visited village Atoli and Gopalgarh on August 6.
On Wednesday, a meeting was convened in New Delhi by me to have comprehensive review of the security situation in J&K including in Doda-Kishtwar region. The meeting was attended by the defence minister, railway minister, governor of J&K, chief minister of J&K, alongwith senior officers of the home and defence ministries, state government, army, central paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies.
The state government has decided to extend the already declared Disturbed Areas Act as per the Armed Forces (Jammu and Kashmir) Special Powers Act, 1990 to the remaining portions of Jammu province. (At present only the 20 kms belt along the International Border/LoC in Jammu province and all districts of Kashmir valley stand declared as 'disturbed' since 1990).
The Unified Headquarters have been directed to initiate fresh tactics and modified dynamic deployments to ensure that people in affected areas, and especially in Doda-Kishtwar, feel reassured and confident.
The number of Special Police Officers authorised for Doda has been increased by 1,000 and, along with increasing the effectiveness of existing Village Defence Committees, setting up of Dhok Defence Committees for the grazers who go into the remote forest in higher reaches will also be experimented with.
Special intelligence driven security force operations based on surprise and speed would also be considered as per requirements of the ground situation.
Measures for upgrading security arrangements at the Jammu railway station including its fencing and better illumination as well as coordinated security efforts for the station were agreed upon.
It was also decided that measures as per law against the overground supporters of the terrorists would be stepped up by the J&K Police.
I wish to assure this august House that the government shall leave no stone unturned in bringing back peace to Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the government shall need, in this endeavour, understanding and support of all of you who represent the masses of India. It must be appreciated that what we are fighting is a proxy war of multiple dimensions unleashed by an inimical neighbouring country which has had no qualms in rationalising the brutal killing of innocent men, women and children as 'a freedom struggle'.
I seek the support and cooperation of all members of this Hon'ble House for the government's determined bid to crush militancy and terrorism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
UNI
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