Centre plans to bring killing of civilians, security personnel due to terror, Naxal, insurgent activities in J&K and northeast to zero by 2029

New Delhi: The Union government intends to bring the number of killings of civilians and security personnel due to terror or insurgent activities in Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast as well as due to naxal violence to zero by 2029, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed a Parliamentary panel.

The target was presented before the multi-party Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs on Tuesday by Home Secretary Govind Mohan in a presentation on the functioning of the MHA.

The MHA has said in the section 'Vision @ 2047 (2024-2029)' that it wants a safe, harmonious and prosperous India with safe borders and it could be achieved through strong internal security, strong cyber space, transparent criminal justice system and prosperous borders.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the government intends to eliminate terrorist support and terror financing networks besides taking legal action against anti-India elements.

The government would also take steps to implement peace agreements, concluding agreements with groups interested in negotiations and neutralising other groups in the northeast. It is also looking at a national policy and action plan to counter naxal menace and it seeks to improve infrastructure and communication ecosystems.

Mohan, through the presentation, said that the "target" is to have "zero" deaths due to violence inflicted by Maoists, insurgents in the northeast and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

While 310 civilians and security personnel were killed in naxal violence in 2014 and it has come down to 61 in 2022, the deaths due to insurgency in the north east has come down from 232 to eight during the same period. In Jammu and Kashmir, the killings have decreased from 75 to 55, the presentation showed.

It said a "terror-free Jammu and Kashmir", a "militancy-free peaceful north-east", "drug-free India" and "eliminating left-wing extremism" are among the goals. To end drug menace, it would augment the capacity and footprint of the Narcotics Control Bureau and the scanning of consignments at ports.

To tackle cyber crimes, the government plans to have a secure digital ecosystem with regional cyber forensic laboratories in states, cyber security wing at Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Cyber Commando wing in states and cyber hygiene training among others. There will also be enhanced border infrastructure.

Citing major achievements, the presentation showed that the footprint of the National Investigation Agency was enhanced through amendments in the law.

In security related initiatives, Mohan said, authorities are taking steps to prevent personnel in paramilitary forces and those working in sensitive sectors not falling to honey trapping. Standard Operating Procedures have been issued and are monitored for compliance.

On border infrastructure, he said 198 km of border have been fenced, 969 km of border roads have been built, and 233 km area has been covered by floodlight in the past five years. With this, a total of 5,002 km of border have been fenced, 5,814 km border roads have been built, 4,593 km have been covered by floodlight.