All quiet on the northern front, says army

The situation along the Indian border along the Siachen glacier is "quiet", said Lieutenant General J S Dhillon, security adviser to the Jammu and Kashmir government.

Infiltration from across the border is much less as compared to last year and overall situation has considerably improved, he told reporters in Srinagar.

Lt Gen Dhillon said there were some incidents of firing from across the border in the Kargil sector recently which resulted in two civilian casualties and caused the population to be shifted from affected villages. The situation in the sector became normal after the Indian troops fired back, he said.

To a question, Lt Gen Dhillon replied that the situation all along the border with Pakistan occupied Kashmir is also quiet. He said infiltration from across the border is much less this season as compared to last year.

''Because of our tight measures the infiltrators are finding it difficult to sneak here, he said, adding that there could be some minor infiltration because the complex topography of the area allowed it.

Lt Gen Dhillon said local militants were not so active now as foreign mercenaries. There could be not more than 500 to 600 foreign militants operating all over the state, he said, claiming they mostly lived in forests and on the outskirts of villages where security forces are not present.

The situation has improved because people are now coming out openly with information about militants, he said.

"Our forces are well spread and we are in a position to take care of everything," he said when asked if militants could become active again after the secretariat shifts back to Srinagar.

He said any attempt by the Inter-Services Intelligence agents to disrupt functioning of the government in the valley would be frustrated. ''Their designs will not succeed now as people are fed-up with militancy and wanted to live a peaceful life,'' he said. About 30 foreign militants were killed by troops this year, he pointed out.

Asked about alleged excesses by the security forces, Lt Gen Dhillon said all such cases were being investigated and the guilty are being punished. They are being considered as ''anti-nationals,'' he said, pointing out that four security personnel were given ten-year sentences for raping a woman in late 1995. Anybody found violating the law will not be spared, the general said, adding that investigations are still on into charges of extortion by an army officer.