Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has said that Pakistan is helping terrorists to infiltrate into Indian territory. Accusing Pakistan of fomenting trouble in the country, he charged Islamabad with making purposeful attacks against India as it is averse to the progress made by New Delhi despite a global economic meltdown. The Home Minister was talking to reporters in New Delhi after taking salute at the Police Commemoration Day parade today.

Mr Shinde, however said, there has been a slowdown in the number of incidents of intrusion into the country during the last two to three years despite some of the terrorist outfits being at work. The Home Minister said, his Ministry has directed all concerned to be extra vigilant during the ongoing festival season and ensure peace.

Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, Mr Shinde said, security forces cannot be withdrawn from the Valley till the situation is completely peaceful there. He said, during his recent visit to the state, local people had asked him to withdraw the Army from the Valley, but he told them that the government can not do it till the situation is peaceful.

Mr Shinde said, New Delhi has intelligence reports about the cross-border intrusions. The Home Minister said, the border fencing between India and Bangladesh will be completed as early as possible. Mr Shinde, who had returned yesterday after visiting the Indo-Bangladesh border areas, said that out of the more than 4000 kilometers of border India shares with Bangladesh, fencing of over 2000 kilometres has been completed.

Earlier, Mr Shinde paid tribute to 575 securitymen who laid down their lives in the last one year. While 383 personnel from state police forces were killed between the 1st of September last year and 31st of August this year. 192 troops belonging to the Central armed police forces, died during this period.