M A I N   N E W S

Militants told to ‘show results’
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 18
Following poor response to the militants’ call for poll boycott in the 23 constituencies that went to the polls two days back agencies across the border have directed the rebels to “show results” by targeting candidates and important political leaders.

According to official reports, the latest instructions to the militants are to step up violence to the level that voters dared not the polling stations for voting in remaining 60 constituencies gone to the polls in next three phases, beginning from September 24.

“Coming 10 days are a great challenge for the Mujahideen. Act fast and action against candidates contesting the poll is the need of the hour. “This is a message, sent to district commanders of militants outfits, intercepted by security agencies.

A spokesman of Army’s Northern Command today released a couple of messages intercepted by the security agencies. One message clearly indicated that the incentive money for killing of a candidate has been raised from Rs one lakh to Rs 10 lakh and for Dr Abdullah and his son, Mr Omar Abdullah the price money is “Rs 40 lakh.”

Another message said “Do not delay targeting candidates because very short time is left with us. Do not own responsibility for these killings.”

A police spokesman said that in the past 15 days, which included the polling day under phase I, militants resorted to 246 acts of violence in different parts of the state and these included 23 grenade attacks, eight bomb/IED explosions, four rocket attacks, 12 abductions, 141 firing and crossfiring incidents.

The spokesman said in these incidents militants killed 62 persons, which included 17 political leaders and activists, and injured 166 civilians.

Security forces, including the police, eliminated 61 militants during these 15 days but lost 37 security personnel.

The police and the Army authorities said that field reports had revealed that large groups of militants have fanned to various areas in Srinagar and Budgam districts, having 15 assembly constituencies, in border belts of Jammu district, having 13 segments, to upper reaches of Udhampur and Kathua districts, having 11 constituencies, where polling will be held on September 24 and October 1 respectively.

Fresh groups of rebels have been sent to these areas with instructions to concentrate on Srinagar, Anantnag and Pulwama districts. Anantnag and Pulwama districts have 16 constituencies and these two areas are treated significant in respect of voter percentage.

Official reports said that additional companies of paramilitary forces have been moved out of Kupwara, Baramula, Poonch and Rajouri districts, where polling was over on September 16, and these were being deployed in Srinagar Budhgam and Jammu districts respectively.

According to these reports, more than 400 companies of Paramilitary forces and the police will be put on poll duty on September 24 in Srinagar, Budgam districts where the threat from militants to disrupt the polling was more serious than in Jammu district.

One police officer said “militants are keen to avenge their defeat they faced in Kupwara, Baramula, Poonch and Rajouri districts where more than 47 per cent polling was recorded by stepping violence in the remaining 60 constituencies where polling will be held in three phases, last phase covering the troubled Doda district.

He said security arrangements in these constituencies were being reviewed regularly additional security personnel would be sent where ever needed.

He stated that militants and separatists had concentrated in 10 out of 15 constituencies in Srinagar and Budgam districts where their plan was to enforce total boycott of the polling. “We have prepared a plan to foil their designs, “ the police officer claimed.