Tuesday, February 21 2006 13:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Infiltration from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir has declined by 54 per cent and terrorist killings by 22 per cent in the past one year, Home Minister Shivraj Patil informed Lok Sabha today (Feb 21,2006).

Replying to questions, Patil said infiltration by terrorists was only taking place in Jammu and Kashmir whereas such infiltration through Eastern and North-Eastern borders was negligible, though these regions were affected by insurgency.

He said the major causes of decline in infiltration in J&K were border fencing, strict vigil by security forces as well as ongoing peace talks on the Kashmir issue.

Patil said several steps were being taken to equip security, police and para-military forces with hi-tech electronic gadgets, weapons and surveillance equipment.

While infiltration from Nepal was being checked by SSB, for which 20 more battalions were being raised, prevention of infiltration along the Gujarat coastline was being carried out by the coastal police who had been provided with patrol boats and other equipment, Patil said, adding fencing was on in full swing along the Bangladesh border.

To a question on the December 28 attack at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in which Prof M C Puri was killed, he said one Lashkar-e-Toiba activist has been arrested and investigation has pointed towards the involvement of LeT.

On terrorist activities in South India, the Minister said cases were registered in 2005 against three suspected terror outfit activists in Nalgonda in Andhra Pradesh, while action against 17 more was initiated by the state police. Karnataka Police has also acted against seven persons.