The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, July 15, 2002, Chandigarh, India

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Protesters keep Advani away from carnage site
Tribune News Service

Victims of the attack are cremated at a mass funeral at the Jogi Gate cremation ground in Jammu.

Victims' children sleep on a hospital floor.

An unidentified girl cries during a funeral ceremony for a relative killed in the militant attack.

Relatives of victims sit with their loved ones surrounded with blocks of ice in the hospital morgue in Jammu. — Reuters photos

Jammu, July 14
Angry slogan-shouting protesters today prevented Mr L.K. Advani from visiting the site of yesterday’s carnage in Jammu. The Deputy Prime Minister, who came here to give a report on the incident, said carnages being committed by militants repeatedly was a question for the entire nation and the government would shortly formulate its response to such “inhuman acts.”

Mr Advani visited Qasim Nagar colony, where militants massacred 27 persons yesterday and met some of the wounded in hospital.

He later told newsmen that he would submit his report to the Prime Minister. On the basis of this report, the government would make its stand known on the menace of cross-border terrorism and infiltration during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning tomorrow.

He said the government assessment would be based on the inputs from the international community, on Pakistan’s assurances to the international community and on other reports from “our agencies”. “We have to see to what extent Pakistan’s assurances are implemented on the ground,” he added.

Mr Advani said that the approach of the international community to terrorism had changed after the terrorist strike on key American installations on September 11, and India too received support from this community. He stated, “We have yet to experience a change in Pakistan’s attitude because assurances given by Islamabad to the world community have not been implemented on the ground.”

Describing yesterday’s terrorist strike in Rajiv Nagar Colony, in which 27 persons were killed and an equal number wounded, as “the most naked form of terrorism.” He said one wounded woman informed him that when she spotted a militant, she asked him what he wanted. Mr Advani said he told the woman that he did not want anything but had “come to kill her and others.”

The Deputy Prime Minister said militants had struck after the May 14 Kaluchak incident. The only difference in yesterday’s strike was that poor labourers were targeted while on May 14 family members of Army personnel were killed.

He said the object of these strikes was to create “terror”. In this connection, he referred to the terror-stricken people of the colony who demanded an adequate security cover which the Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, had promised to them.

Accompanied by Dr Abdullah, the Governor, Mr G.C. Saxena, and Mr Omar Abdullah, Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Advani wanted to visit Qasim Nagar. But on hearing angry protesters shouting anti-Farooq Abdullah slogans and sensing the mood of the people, the Deputy Prime Minister did not enter the colony. Instead, he was briefed by a senior Army officer about the incident.

He invited a group of five inmates of the colony to Raj Bhavan where he assured them that their safety and security would be taken care of.

Mr Advani had a half-an-hour discussion with the Governor, the Chief Minister, Director-General Police and the Chief Secretary and wanted to have their assessment of the situation and the steps needed to tackle militants.

Mr Advani did not name any outfit that could have carried out the strike. He said, “I cannot name any outfit unless we have sufficient intercepts and inputs.”