J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

118 trains will carry troops to border
Jammu, January 13
Despite hopes of a thaw in the on- going conflict between India and Pakistan following Islamabad’s plan to deal firmly with extremists, there is no improvement in the rising tension along the border.

J&K militancy : more civilians killed in 2001
Srinagar, January 13
Well-coordinated operations by the Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces in the state led to the killing of 2,020 militants, including 134 top-ranking ultras, the highest in the decade-long militancy, and recovered large quantities of arms and ammunitions during 2001, a police spokesman said here today.

A bold step: Abdullah
Jammu, January 13
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today described Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s address as bold as far as combating terrorism was concerned but said India should give him some breathing space.

118 trains will carry troops to border
Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 13
Despite hopes of a thaw in the on- going conflict between India and Pakistan following Islamabad’s plan to deal firmly with extremists, there is no improvement in the rising tension along the border.

Both sides are engaged in military build-up. During the first three days, 20 trains carrying Indian troops reached Jammu and its adjoining areas and some of the companies were sent to the Kashmir valley, indicating that India was taking all precautionary measures.

It is in this connection that the state team led by Dr Farooq Abdullah suggested to the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, during his brief visit to Srinagar on January 10, that further withdrawal of troops from within the state for deployment on the border should be stopped.

Sources said Mr Fernandes assured the team that there would be no further withdrawal of troops and whatever additional forces were reacting Jammu and Srinagar would be deployed along the border and some sensitive areas.

The team pleaded with the Defence Minister for sanctioning additional forces for the state because deployment of 20 additional companies of the CRPF was inadequate to carry out operations on a massive scale against the militants.

State government functionaries stated that the Defence Ministry had sanctioned additional battalions for strengthening border management and at least 118 trains had been booked for carrying troops to Jammu and Kashmir and some parts of Punjab border.

During a recent visit to the border areas, this correspondent saw that at several places, the security forces had outnumbered civilians.

This has reduced pressure on the militants operating in villages and towns. The govt functionaries were for multi-dimensional operations against the militants so that they were not able to carve out basis.

Defence analysts were of the view that if there was no major threat from across the border, anti-insurgency operations within the state had to be intensified.

The Defence Ministry sources said a plan was being given final touches and the security forces would launch a major offensive against the militants and in areas which were under the control of foreign mercenaries, including large belts in Handwara tehsil of Kupwara district, for the past several years. 

J&K militancy : more civilians killed in 2001

Srinagar, January 13
Well-coordinated operations by the Jammu and Kashmir police and security forces in the state led to the killing of 2,020 militants, including 134 top-ranking ultras, the highest in the decade-long militancy, and recovered large quantities of arms and ammunitions during 2001, a police spokesman said here today.

Even in the case of December 13 attack on Parliament, the Srinagar police had played a very significant role, he said. He said the civilian casualties in the incidents, nevertheless, also registered an increase in 2001 as 919 civilians - 779 men, 103 women and 37 children - were killed and 2,120 injured in the year. In contrast, as many as 762 civilians were killed and 1,258 injured by militants in 2000. PTI

A bold step: Abdullah

Jammu, January 13
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today described Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf’s address as bold as far as combating terrorism was concerned but said India should give him some breathing space.

“We should not act immediately and give Musharraf some breathing space,” he said. Referring to banning of militant outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad by General Musharraf, Dr Abdullah said: “If he has banned them, actions will matter. We have to see what actions will be taken against them on the ground.”

General Musharraf would have to convince India that he was doing something concrete to stamp out terrorism, the Chief Minister said. PTI