J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

J&K BJP to oppose NC move on autonomy
JAMMU, July 10— The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has decided to oppose any move of the National Conference to divide the state on “communal basis” in the name of regional autonomy.

Living in shadow of militancy
RAJOURI (Jammu), July 10 — Nearly eight lakh people in the twin border sectors of Rajouri and Poonch continue to lead an uneasy life because the shadow of militancy. Ghulam Rasool, a small shopkeeper, says, “Without war we are facing a war-like situation with militants and the security forces playing hide and seek game. If we are alive, it is because of the troops that have foiled militants’ gameplan of kicking up subversive violence and communal trouble.

Buddhists seek UT status for Ladakh
JAMMU, July 10 — Buddhists of Leh today staged yet another massive demonstration in support of their demand for grant of union territory status to Ladakh.

J&K BJP to oppose NC move on autonomy
From Our Correspondent

JAMMU, July 10— The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP has decided to oppose any move of the National Conference to divide the state on “communal basis” in the name of regional autonomy.

This was stated by the party president, Mr D.K.Kotwal, and the general secretary, Dr Nirmal Singh, at a press conference here today. Mr Kotwal said that after having failed to get the autonomy resolution accepted by the Union Cabinet the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, was toying with the idea of adopting regional autonomy committee report by the state legislature. He said “we will oppose it with all our strength because division of the state on communal basis was intolerable by the people.”

He said that if the National Conference was serious about regional autonomy it should establish three regional councils, for the Kashmir valley, Jammu province and Ladakh.

Dr Nirmal Singh and Mr Kotwal said that they were intrigued over the timing of the adoption of the autonomy resolution and now raking up the regional autonomy issue by the National Conference when there was need for taking effective and suitable measures for tackling the problem of militancy.

Dr Nirmal Singh said that on one hand the Chief Minister was talking about state and regional autonomy but on the other he had stalled the panchayat elections for the past two decades.

Mr Kotwal said that if the National Conference wanted devolution of powers to the state it could be discussed within the framework of the Sarkaria Commission report.

He and Dr Nirmal Singh expressed grief over the way the debate, initiated by National Conference, on state regional autonomy had given rise to regional and communal passions.

The BJP leaders suggested to the Chief Minister to realise the ground reality and avoid fomenting turmoil and political confusion by words and deeds. They said all political forces should join hands in strengthening the hands of the Army engaged in anti-insurgency operations. They said it was regrettable that the ruling National Conference had launched a campaign against the Army by accusing falsely the jawans of committing excesses. 

Living in shadow of militancy
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

RAJOURI (Jammu), July 10 — Nearly eight lakh people in the twin border sectors of Rajouri and Poonch continue to lead an uneasy life because the shadow of militancy.

Ghulam Rasool, a small shopkeeper, says, “Without war we are facing a war-like situation with militants and the security forces playing hide and seek game. If we are alive, it is because of the troops that have foiled militants’ gameplan of kicking up subversive violence and communal trouble.

Of the 4,000 sq km area in Poonch and Rajouri over 40 per cent is forest belt making it difficult for the Army to carry out operations against the militants.

The troops in these two sectors have to perform the most tedious job of maintaining the sanctity of the LoC, which is dotted by deep ravines, high mountains and thick forests. Since the LoC demarcation is zig-zag, a number of Indian villages including Tarkunde in Poonch, act as a buffer between the Indian troops and the Pakistani soldiers.

In the recent weeks Pakistan soldiers have made repeated attempts to intrude into the Indian territory and capture posts. They have failed but they have not given up their plan of grabbing portions of the Indian territory in Rajouri and Poonch.

While the Pakistan soldiers have kept the border tension alive the agencies across the LoC have equipped foreign mercenaries with sophisticated weapons and high-grade explosives to blow up vital installations, bridges and roads and to attack security camps and pickets.

This called for a new strategy. Under the new strategy troops have been divided in two groups. One has been assigned the task of checking infiltration from across Poonch and Rajouri and the other for carrying out operations against the militants.

When militancy raised its head in the Kashmir valley Poonch and Rajouri border routes were used for infiltration and the infiltrators would march to the valley and to Doda for carrying out operations against the security forces and political leaders.

It was towards the end of 1998 that the need for raising counter-insurgency force was felt which took a definite shape when the Romeo Force of the Army took control of the operations in Rajouri and Poonch.

The Romeo Force has been in a position to force the militants, especially the foreign mercenaries, to be on the run or be on the defensive. According to Col Manjit Singh, who is in charge of the human rights cell, the Romeo Force has been able to carry out coordinated operations with the result that infiltrators were eliminated on the spot. It has synergised the existing intelligence network, broke the link between the local militants and the foreign mercenaries and rendering the mercenaries directionless.

As a result of round-the-clock surveillance over suspected militant hideouts the Romeo Force managed to smash scores of these bases and eliminated 105 hardcore rebels.

During the past three months 143 weapons, 47,000 rounds of ammunition, 370 kg of explosives, 50 IEDs and 33 mines were recovered.

Col Manjit Singh is of the view that not more than 250 militants, including foreign mercenaries, are operating in Poonch and Rajouri belts. Compared to the number of troops and paramilitary forces present in the two districts, Mr Raman Bhalla a political leader, said it was strange that such a small group of militants had destabilised peace and forced people to live under threat.

However, the Army authorities explain that militants have adopted hit and run tactics.

The Army authorities feel that their men are fully equipped and trained to flush out militants from the two districts.

Col Manjit Singh says, “Most of the counter-insurgency operations are undertaken on foot. At times mechanical mobilisation is required for sending additional troops swiftly to the target areas and for this we have adequate mechanical transport facilities.”

Others say that invariably it takes several days to rush troops to far-flung areas and to make up for this deficiency helicopters are pressed into service for sending reinforcements.

The Army authorities admit that the success of the anti-insurgency operations depends on the intelligence field reports. “If the intelligence feedback is correct and specific the operations become result oriented,” they explain. These authorities say they have no time frame for ending insurgency or restoring total normalcy to Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The Romeo Force has given new dimensions to its anti-insurgency operations by establishing a human rights cell. The cell has been training jawans regarding human rights. Three senior officers man this cell and monitor all issues related to human rights, public relations and law.

This has encouraged the people to cooperate with the security forces.

Buddhists seek UT status for Ladakh
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, July 10 — Buddhists of Leh today staged yet another massive demonstration in support of their demand for grant of union territory status to Ladakh.

Hours before the National Conference Working Committee met in Srinagar, the Buddhists demonstrated their strength by marching from main Chowkhang Vehara to the historical pologround, a distance of 4 km, shouting slogans in favour of separate statehood for Ladakh with union territory status.

Carrying the national flags and placards, the Buddhist demonstrators were addressed by Mr Bakula, former Minister and Ambassador to Maongolia, Lama Lopzang, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes, Tsering Dorjay Congress MLA, Tsering Samphel, President, Ladakh Buddhist Association, and other youth leaders.

These leaders declared that they would continue the agitation till their demand was conceded. They said that the ruling National Conference had discriminated against the people of Ladakh and Jammu and it was time that Ladakh was delinked from the Kashmir valley so that people in the ‘land of lamas’ were able to get the benefits of the centrally sponsored development schemes.

They appealed to the people, who had come from the adjoining areas of Leh, to get ready for bigger sacrifices for achieving the union territory status for Ladakh.