What is the typical profile of the infiltrators you are facing?

They are all brainwashed from a young age. Children are picked up from Madrasas and trained. They are all religiously motivated. When I was in Kashmir I interrogated many of them. They are indoctrinated to face martyrdom in Kashmir. They actually come prepared to die. I have also faced many encounters in Kashmir when militants are holed up in houses. When you tell them to come out and surrender they answer: ``We will never come out. Hum to shaheed banney key liye aaye hain (we have come to sacrifice ourselves). But see, Srinagar todayhas beauty parlours; the cinema-houses are running. A kind of normalcy is returning.

But we have to remain alert?

We have to be alert. These recent incidents, particularly attacks on security posts, are extremely worrying. But in the Bandipore incident we have found that the sentry post was not occupied. There is no doubt that perimeter security was compromised.

Has the incident affected morale?

Not at all. In fact, when I was in Kashmir I used to say that the enemy must be worthy of our steel. It is only enemies like this who fight to the death who make worthy opponents.

You described the incident as a shameful lapse of security.

There is no doubt that our security was breached. After the inquiry is over, somebody will have to pay -- and pay heavily. This was a shameful lapse which just cannot be tolerated. In fact, I have found out that one sentry was missing from duty.

The BSF also opened fire on an Army patrol from the Malabela bunker and killed one officer and threemen.

We are holding a joint court of inquiry with the Army. At this stage, all I can say is that the Army has given one version and my officials have given me a different version. I have to rely on them.

What if a BSF lapse emerges?

I am absolutely, vehemently clear about this. I have told the DGMO that if we find that our boys have made a mistake we will punish them. Repeat, punish them. There is no doubt about this: we will not hide our mistakes.

The Army is saying that it was murder.

It could have been anything. If it was murder, it was the most reprehensible thing and there is going to be no attempt at a cover-up.

It seems very strange that the BSF personnel in the bunker were asleep, so close to the border...

I have been to the Malabela bunker and almost every night it is fired upon. No sentry would dare to sleep. It is a question of his own life. He is not in a border outpost. He is completely isolated and at any moment a Pakistani party can hit him from behind.So, for the sake of his own dear life, he would not dream of sleeping. But we really do not know...

As an Assam cadre official, how would you rate the situation in Assam against that in Kashmir?

It is bad, what is happening in the Northeast, because I personally feel that it can be sorted ut very easily. The sense of alienation there is absolutely warranted. We have always treated them as second-class citizens. I will always say this.

Isn't this trend of attacking Army posts contrary to the government's view that these insurgents are mercenaries paid by Pakistan. Attacking an Army post shows a kind of death wish...

These insurgent groups are basically religious fundamentalist organizations. Their cadres are brainwashed into zombies. I think it is very wrong to call them mercenaries. However, I always say that if they want to be martyrs, we will oblige them.

Will the Army be taking over large parts of Kashmir from the BSF?

There is nothing like this on the anvil. The BSF willnot be changed in any part of J&K. In fact, even despite the recent troubles Srinagar, which is in our control, was completely unaffected. There is no doubt that BSF battalions are under pressure, and that we have far to many battalions deployed in Kashmir. But we are standing up to the pressure very well.

Is the infiltration rate higher than usual this year?

The figures we have are based on human intelligence reports. So it is difficult to come to an exact conclusion as identical sightings may be reported by different people. Another factor is the poor snowfall, which has allowed more people to come in. The main areas of infiltration are Baramullah, Kupwara, Poonch, Rajouri and Uri. There is a trend this excessive infiltration began in 1998, since the local insurgent groups had been wiped out. Only the Hizbul Mujahideen were still active. So the ISI perforce had to rely on Pakistanis, besides some Afghans.

What about equipment in Kashmir?

We have been asking for the Karl Gustav rocketlauncher for many years. This year, we have finally got it. We are also trying to get automatic grenade launchers from Russia. It's a slow process but they have agreed. The Home Ministry is considering our request to raise some new battalions so that other battalions can be rested.

What about criticism of the BSF as an overdeployed, badly disciplined force with a shabby human rights record?

As far as discipline is concerned, the BSF is far healthier today than it was a couple of years ago. In the past year, we have raised training standards considerably. I will give you practical examples: all our promotions tests have been tightened in the past two years. So the quality of fresh NCOs and JCOs has gone up. We have two main tests for jawans. One is the field physical efficiency test and the other gauges shooting skills. Till now, you never had any categories so you always had an overall pass. For the past two years unless candidates score in the `good' category, they do not pass.

Does thisexplain the resentment against you?

Why should there be any. All soldiers have professional pride. I think the jawan is extremely happy that someone has finally laid down some standards. Certainly, people who are weak, people who do not take an interest in their work, may be disgruntled.