Lesser deaths in India in terror acts: US report

India experienced lesser number of deaths due to extremism last year, but still it remains one of the most terrorism-afflicted nations, a US report said.

Washington: India experienced lesser number
of deaths due to extremism last year, but still it remains one
of the most terrorism-afflicted nations in the world, a US
report said.

"The loss of nearly 1,900 lives (civilian, security
forces, and terrorists) still made India one of the world?s
most terrorism-afflicted countries.
"Sustained violence in Kashmir over a six-month period
and attempted infiltrations from Pakistan across the Line of
Control remained serious concerns for the Indian government,"
the annual State Department Country Report on Terrorism for
2010 stated.

"In May, an Indian court convicted and sentenced to death
the lone surviving attacker (Ajmal Kasab) of the 2008 Mumbai
terrorist attacks," said the annual report released by the
State Department released Thursday.

According to the report, In 2010, India continued to see
a reduction in the number of deaths attributable to terrorist
violence, as it ramped up its counter-terrorism capacity
building efforts and increased cooperation with the
international community, especially the US.

The State Department praised Indian authorities for its
counter-terrorism efforts.

Indian security forces successfully ensured security at a
number of major events, including the 2010 Hockey World Cup
and the 2010 Commonwealth Games, without any incident.
Throughout 2010, Indian authorities arrested numerous
suspected militants, uncovered several arms caches, continued
to develop a new internal security force, implemented improved
border security measures mainly along the Pakistani border,
and tightened laws to counter terrorist financing.

In July, the US-India Counter-terrorism Cooperation
Initiative was signed, which set the stage for greater
cooperation on anti-terror issues between the two governments,
it said.

"Throughout the year, India worked to improve its
counter-terrorism readiness. The Ministry of Home Affairs
Annual Report 2009-2010 stated that in response to the
November 26, 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, Quick Reaction
Teams have been set up in four regional hubs (Mumbai, Kolkata,
Chennai, and Hyderabad) with 1,086 trained personnel and an
additional team on standby at the Delhi airport, ready to
deploy during an emergency," the report said.

Countering extremist ideology has become an important
part of India’s counter-terrorism strategy.

The Ministry of Home Affairs continued its
Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation policy, which encouraged
misguided youths and militants to surrender, while offering to
provide them rehabilitation and assistance in transitioning
back into the population, the report added.

PTI

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