Internal security has vastly increased: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that the internal security situation in the country has vastly improved, particularly in the Northeast and the left-Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states.

Addressing the inaugural three-day session of the Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police at Kevadia in Narmada district, Singh noted with satisfaction the improving security scenario in the Northeast, particularly the peaceful roll-out of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, including publication of the final draft NRC list on July 30, 2018.

"Security scenario in the Northeast has witnessed steady improvement in recent years. All parameters of violence have improved in 2018 in comparison to corresponding period of 2017. There is a 17 per cent decline in total incidents and 38 per cent reduction in the casualties of civilians," said Singh.

He further said that AFSPA was selectively relaxed in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, inviting positive public response. "Besides, to encourage the terrorists to join the mainstream, government has revised the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy by enhancing financial benefits to the surrendering terrorists," he added.

Singh also said India's security concerns have been conveyed to Myanmar even as efforts are on to harness the trade potential with the eastern neighbour and beyond.

He further said that violence in the LWE affected areas continues to improve for the last eight years. "We achieved major operational successes in core areas of CPI/Maoist in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha. Coordination among different state police forces and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and generation of regular actionable intelligence were among the main factors which led to an almost two-fold increase in the losses suffered by LWEs this year."

The minister said the communal situation has also remained under control this year till date. "The communal situation during the current year remained under control, with a decrease of 12 per cent in communal incidents as compared to the corresponding period in 2017," he said, adding that misuse of social media for religious denigration also witnessed a significant decline during this year.

Singh further pointed out that terrorism in the hinterland has also been stamped out. "Law enforcement agencies, through concerted action coordinated by Intelligence Bureau, have managed to overcome the first tide of propaganda and mobilisation by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. Consequently, India witnessed very few incidents of IS-inspired violence. In concerted counterterrorism operations, law enforcement agencies have arrested nearly 125 terrorist suspects as against 117 arrested in 2017," said Singh. "The new phase of IS propaganda emanating from Afghanistan-Pakistan region is also being countered effectively," he added.

The Union Home Minister commended the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for clamping down on terror activities. "In countering terror, NIA is also doing a very good work. A total number of 45 NIA Special Courts have been constituted in the states and union territories. The NIA, since its inception, has registered 183 cases till December, 2017, out of which, 135 cases have been chargesheeted. Trial has been concluded in 37 cases, out of which 35 cases have resulted in conviction. This is one of the highest conviction rates in the world by any agency."

Singh said that Pakistan is perpetrating terrorist activities on Indian soil from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab and the hinterland. Singh said the security situation in J&K continues to be vitiated even though the stone pelting incidents have declined. "Attempts by terrorists to infiltrate in large numbers, intermittent attacks by terrorists and efforts at local recruitment continue. Terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK remains in the form of training camps, launching pads and communication control stations. Financing from across for terrorists and separatists is a cause of concern. The separatists also exploit every possible situation to agitate the people to fan further anti-India sentiments, which lead to law and order situations."

The minister directed the security establishment to check efforts to revive terrorism in Punjab. "In Punjab, recent terror incidents and related interdictions indicate concerted efforts on part of Pak-establishment and Sikh extremist elements based in Pakistan to revive terrorism in Punjab with active support of other Sikh radical/extremist entities based abroad, especially Europe and America," he added.