Friday, December 24 2004 16:11 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government's offer to hold talks with insurgent groups abjuring violence, reduction in infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir, repeal of anti-terrorism law POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act), unrest in Manipur and parleys with major Naga insurgent group NSCN-IM (National Socialist Council of Nagalim - Isak Muivah) were the highlights in the internal security scenario in the year gone by.

The decision on bringing in a law to deal with communal violence and the move to reconstitute the National Integration Council also kept the Union Home Ministry busy after the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government assumed office in May.

With the Indo-Pak dialogue process on track, the Ministry liberalised the visa policy for Pakistani journalists, academicians, professors, medical doctors accompanying patients for treatment in Indian hospitals and people invited to participate in seminars and cultural events, a Home Ministry release said today (Dec 24, 2004).

The Ministry also issued a notification creating a new category of classical languages and declared Tamil as a classical language.

Jammu & Kashmir

Observing that the overall security situation in Jammu and Kashmir "improved significantly" with reduction in infiltration by 60 per cent, the release said that the lower level of militant violence resulted in revival of tourism, giving a boost to the state's economy.

Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who visited JK, declared that Government was willing to hold talks with any insurgent group, which abjured violence.

According to the Home Minister, fencing of the border and the efforts of the Security forces were among the reasons for reduction in infiltration and violence in JK.

The Kashmir valley saw the arrival of about 2.7 lakh tourists till September 2004, the highest so far in 15 years of turmoil in the State.

Amarnath Yatra went incident free and a record number of four lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine in south Kashmir.

In view of the improved situation, the Government decided to reduce troops in JK.

POTA

As promised by the UPA Government's Common Minimum Programme (CMP), Centre issued an ordinance in August to repeal Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), which was enacted by the previous NDA regime.

A POTA repeal bill to replace the ordinance was passed by Parliament during the Winter Session, which ended yesterday (Dec 23, 2004).

Government also brought in a substitute law incorporating certain provisions under POTA to fight terrorism.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2004, replacing POTA, was also passed by Parliament to deal with various facets of terrorism. The 32 terrorist organisations banned under POTA would continue to be banned under the Unlawful Activities law.

N-E violence

The year saw violence in Manipur following the alleged rape and killing of a woman PLA (People's Liberation Army) activist in the custody of Assam Rifles on July 11.

As part of efforts to normalise the situation in the North-Eastern state, the Prime Minister met a delegation of Apunba Lup, an umbrella organisation of agitating Manipuri groups, and promised to look into their demand for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, enforced in the state.

A Unified Headquarters was set up in Manipur for coordinating operations by security forces against militant outfits.

A five-member committee headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Jeevan Reddy was set up to review the provision of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Top NSCN-IM leaders Isak Swu and T Muivah arrived in the country earlier this month to hold talks with the Centre and met the Prime Minister, the Home Minister and went to Nagaland to meet the outfit's cadres. The parleys with the Centre would continue after their return here from Nagaland. Swu and Muivah had visited India in January last year and met the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his deputy L K Advani.

The Centre also extended the ceasefire with NSCN-IM till July 31, 2005. The ceasefire has been in place since 1997.

Home Minister Patil attended a Chief Ministers Conference on Naxalism in Hyderabad on September 21 where it was decided to pursue a coordinated approach and to strengthen peace.