CHIDAMBARAM 2

Chidambaram said beginning 2005 and with the exception
of 2008, the law and order situation in J&K has been extremely
benign with few incidents and fewer casualties.
Unfortunately since June this year, there has been an
unexpected turn of events, he said.
"I am afraid J&K is now caught in a vicious cycle of
stone pelting, lathicharge, teargassing and firing, leading to
casualties and resulting in more stone pelting," he said.
The Home Minister said the security forces have been
instructed to act with great restraint and the situation has
not yet returned to normal.
Chidambaram said the Central government has acknowledged
that a political solution must be found to the problems of
J&K and the Central government has offered a dialogue with all
sections of the people and political parties and groups of the
state.
"We are concerned that we have not been able to stop the
vicious cycle in which the state is caught. However, it is my
hope that, in the next few days, we would be able to find that
elusive 'starting point' from where we could reach out to the
protestors, reassure them of their rights and dignity, restore
peace and order, redeem the promises made, and re-start the
process of a dialogue that will lead to a solution," he said.
Chidambaram said through 2009 and in the first eight
months of 2010, the security situation was severely challenged
by forces inimical both within and outside the country.
"Contrary to perceptions in a section of the media -
and consequently, among sections of the people - the Indian
state has been able to stand up to these challenges and face
them with confidence and courage," he said.
The Home Minister said save for one incident, the last
21 months have been remarkably free of any terrorist attack
and the attack on the German bakery in Pune was indeed a blot
and hoped that the suspects will be apprehended soon.
Referring to the Naxal problem, Chidambaram said
despite setbacks, security forces have been able to reassert
their control in several Maoist affected districts.
He said this year alone so far 424 civilians have been
killed and of these 192 were killed after being named "police
informers".
"We have called upon the Communist Party of
India-Maoist to abjure violence and come up for talks. I
regret to say that there has been no direct and credible
response to our offer of talks," he said. (More) PTI