New Delhi, Dec. 31 : In its year-ender assessment for 2008, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday said that there has been a notable improvement in law and order in both Jammu and Kashmir and the North East.

However, it said that the Naxal violence during the year remained at the same level as compared to last year in terms of number of incidents and casualties of security forces.

The communal situation in the country remained largely under control.

Acknowledging the major terrorist incidents in Rampur, Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Malegaon, Modasa and Mumbai, the ministry said Parliament had recently passed two major legislations- the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2008 and the National Investigating Agency Bill, 2008 to ensure greater co-ordinated action by the Central and State intelligence and security Agencies,

The ministry also stated that 11 ISI-backed espionage modules were neutralised during the year up to December 1, 2008 and a large number of terrorist modules of Pak-based terrorist outfits were busted in different parts of the country by the State and Central agencies.

Giving details, the ministry said that as far as Jammu and Kashmir was concerned, the number of terrorist incidents in the State had gone down by 39 percent, the killings of civilians had gone down by 41 percent and that of security forces by 31 percent over the corresponding period of previous year.

The level of infiltration across LoC/international border has also seen a decline, it said.

Among notable achievements vis-a-vis the state, was the starting of cross-LoC trade on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad axis and on the Poonch-Rawalakote axis from October
21,2008, the large number of voters who turned out to vote in the seven-phased assembly elections, the Prime Minister inaugurating the Anantnag- Rajwansher Railway track on the Quazigund- Baramulla rail line on October 11, 2008 and the 450 MW Baglihar hydro-electric project on October 10, 2008.

In April 2008, Government approved a package involving an outlay of around Rs. 1618 crore to encourage and facilitate the return of Kashmiri migrants to the Valley. The Government also approved some relief measures for the victims of militancy including one-time compensation of Rs. 5 lakh to the next-of-kin of civilians killed in militancy- related incidents, the ministry said .

In the North East, the ministry said the overall security situation improved. Causalities of civilians and security force personnel decreased to 506 up to December 15, 2008 as compared to 577 during the corresponding period in the previous year. 4139 militants were killed or surrendered/arrested during 2008 up to December 15, 2008 against
2975 in the previous year. However, the security situation in Nagaland, Manipur and Assam continued to cause concern.

As far as the Naxal situation was concerned, the number of incidents of violence and police/civilian casualties were 1435 and 658 as compared to 1420 and 636 for the corresponding period of the year 2007.

Chhattisgarh was permitted to engage 3500 SPOs for payment of honoraria. Jharkhand also has been permitted to engage 3400 SPOs.

It also said that the cost of engaging helicopters by the Governments of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand has been permitted.

Under the Special Infrastructure Scheme in affected States, a budget of Rs. 500 crore has been provided in the eleventh plan period, with an allocation of Rs. 100 crore for
2008-09.

The Ministry said that over Rs. 60 crore has been released to eight focus districts in Bihar (Gaya, Aurangabad), Chhattisgarh (Dantewada and Bijapur), Andhra Pradesh
(Khammam), Orissa (Malkangiri and Raigarh) and Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat).

The ministry claimed credit for helping the Governments of Orissa and Karnataka to control communal situations.

As far as the Modernisation of Central Para Military Forces (CPMFs) was concerned, the Home Ministry said that out of a total outlay of Rs. 4185 Crore, an amount of Rs.
2664 crore have been spent till date on modernisation of CPMFs and rest of the amount will be spent by 31.03.10.

It claimed that the CPMFs have been equipped with latest weapons, surveillance and communication equipment, vehicles, Body protection equipments etc so that they can carry out their job of guarding the borders and ensuring internal security more effectively.

It said that the Government had approved a three year plan (2005-08) for modernization of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at an estimated cost of Rs. 444.43 Crores in April,
2005. CCS has extended the plans by a period of another three years (two years for SSB) and the Plans will come to an end on 31.3.2010.

An order for procurement of 84 Nos of 5 Ton boats each costing Rs. 105 lakhs and 110 Nos of 12 Ton boats each costing Rs. 215.00 lakhs at a total cost of Rs. 324.70 Crore has been placed on M/S GSL and M/S GRSE and the contract has been signed between MHA and the Shipyards on 29.3.2008. Supply of boats will commence from
1.4.2009 onwards and are likely to be completed by 1.4.2011.

These Boats will help the Marine Police Stations of various State Governments in patrolling the coastal areas more effectively which will further reduce incidents of infiltration and smuggling through the coastal route.

It said that the Cabinet Committee on Security has also approved the procurement of eight Dhruv Helicopters from M/s HAL.

A significant initiative of the ministry was to enhance the capacity building of State Police Forces. This included a focus on mega city policing for which Rs. 68 crore has been sanctioned in 2008-09. A new concept of Desert Policing was also introduced from 2005-06 within the MPF Scheme at a cost of Rs. 10 Crore annually.

It said that steps have also ben taken to strengthen Special Branches with a financial allocation of Rs. 40 Crore sanctioned in 2008-09

Several other measures under the MPF Scheme have also been introduced.

It said that under the Coastal Security Scheme for 9 coastal States and 4 Union Territories, 55 of planned 73 coastal police stations have been made operational - Gujarat
(10), Andhra Pradesh (6), West Bengal (4), Goa (3), Kerala (1), Maharashtra (12), Karnataka (5), Tamil Nadu (8), Puduchery (1), Lakshadweep (4) and Daman and Diu (1).
(ANI)