M A I N   N E W S

Jammu to be under Disturbed Area Act
Centre thrashes out new counter-terrorism steps
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 8
Stung by the rise in violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre today thrashed out fresh security measures for refining the methods being employed by the security forces even as state Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah stated that all six districts in Jammu region would also be declared as disturbed areas.

At a high-level meeting convened by Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and attended by Defence and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor G.C.Saxena, besides the Dr Abdullah and top officials of the Home and Defence Ministries, the situation arising out of the incidents of violence by militants in Doda district and the Jammu railway station were reviewed in detail.

“All six districts in Jammu will also be declared as disturbed areas to give more powers to the security forces...I am awaiting a Union Cabinet approval in this regard ”, Dr Abdullah told newspersons after emerging out of the three-hour long meeting at North Block here.

Dr Abdullah said Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act, 1990, which was in force only in the Kashmir valley, would now be extended to cover the six districts in the Jammu region.

The state government through a notification dated July 6, 1990, had declared areas falling within 20 km of the Line of Control in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch, and the districts of Anantnag, Baramula, Budgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Srinagar as disturbed areas under the provisions of Section 3 of the Act.

He, however, refused to divulge the details about the decisions taken relating to counter-insurgency strategies to quell the escalation in militant activities post Agra Summit, saying that Parliament was in session and Mr Advani would make a statement on the floor of the House tomorrow.

All aspects relating to militancy in the state were discussed and the meeting was “fruitful”, he said.

Union Railways Minister, who was also present at the meeting, said he had asked the General Manager of Northern Railways to go to Jammu to assess the security requirements at the railway station there.

The meeting was also attended by the Home Secretary, Defence Secretary, Secretary (Internal Security), Special Secretary (J&K Affairs), Director-General of Military Operations and chiefs of the BSF, CRPF and ITBP.