J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Multi-layered security in J&K
Srinagar, August 14
With intelligence reports warning of terror strikes, a multi-layered security cover was today thrown around the entire Jammu and Kashmir to foil any attempt by militants to disrupt Independence Day celebrations.

A soldier stands guard as the sun sets over Dal Lake in Srinagar on Sunday. — Reuters

Time not ripe to pull out Army from J&K: GoC-in-C
Jammu, August 14
The Northern Command authorities have conveyed to the Government of India that the “time is not yet ripe for sending troops, deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, back to the barracks.”

Multi-layered security in J&K

Srinagar, August 14
With intelligence reports warning of terror strikes, a multi-layered security cover was today thrown around the entire Jammu and Kashmir to foil any attempt by militants to disrupt Independence Day celebrations.

The police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength, patrolled the streets to ward off any militant attack as the security forces intensified house-to-house searches to flush out hiding militants.

All roads leading to Bakshi Stadium here, the venue of the main official function, were sealed as para-troopers, armed with electronic surveillance gadgets, perched on rooftops, maintained a hawk-eye vigil.

The authorities suspended the Amarnath pilgrimage in view of militant threats to carry out attacks in the state on the occasion of Independence Day, officials said.

With unprecedented security measures in place, the streets in Srinagar wore a deserted look as people preferred to stay indoors.

There was virtually no movement of people on roads and a few who dared to venture out were subjected to thorough frisking and questioning. Private vehicles were also off the road.

The security forces were paying special attention on old cars which were used in recent bombings by ultras near Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium and Nishat Garden here, the officials said.

The security forces were put on a high alert across the state as intelligence agencies warned of terror strikes to sabotage I-Day celebrations.

Vigil was stepped up and the vehicular movement suspended in areas close to Bakshi Stadium, the officials said, adding a three-tier security cover was thrown around the stadium to prevent any terror strike.

The security forces were also keeping an eye on former militants, a majority of whom had been asked to report at nearest police stations.

Some of them were taken into preventive custody, the officials said. — PTI

Time not ripe to pull out Army from J&K: GoC-in-C
Our Correspondent

Jammu, August 14
The Northern Command authorities have conveyed to the Government of India that the “time is not yet ripe for sending troops, deployed in Jammu and Kashmir, back to the barracks.”

In an interview with a news agency, Kashmir Independent Press (KIP), here GOC-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt-Gen Hari Prasad, has said since militants continued to indulge in subversive activities time had not come when antiinsurgency operations could be handed over to the police and the paramilitary forces.

Gen Prasad has added that though militants avoided coming in direct contacts with the troops and instead resorted to IED, grenade and car bomb explosions to create scare among people joint operations by the Army, the police and the paramilitary forces had to be continued.

The Army commander said that infiltration bids continued and during the past seven months there were 120 bids of ingress against 138 during 12 months of 2004. He said in the past seven months 592 militants were killed which included 120 on the LOC.

He said that agencies across the border were trying to push into Jammu and Kashmir as many groups of militants as possible for making up for the loss of man power and for clearing Pakistan of rebels so that the world leaders did not accuse Islamabad of allowing its soil to be used for terrorist activities.

Gen Prasad, further said that there were 55 arms training camps functioning across the border besides a number of launching pads across the LOC.

He said “as far as tackling infiltration was concerned it is no problem.” He said “we have sufficient troops deployed on the border to check ingress of militants and the barbed wire fence and other gadgets had already made infiltration a difficult task.”

The Army Commander said that as far as the peace process was concerned its impact was discernible on the LOC where ceasefire had brought relief to the people living in border areas. These people were able to restart farming after a long time.

But impact of the peace process on the ground in the state was not yet evident. He said what created a problem was that Pakistan tried to delink terrorist activities from the peace process. He said that the Army’s operation Sadbhavana and the state government’s healing touch were two faces of the same coin.

He hoped that the situation would improve but no time-frame could be set for it. He said there has been much improvement in the security scenario and the state registered record tourist and pilgrim traffic during the past seven months.

Three militants arrested in J&K

Srinagar, August 14
Three militants were arrested and a huge cache of arms recovered on the eve of Independence Day across Jammu and Kashmir. Two persons were killed by ultras since last evening, a police spokesman said today.

Two militants of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and an over ground worker of the Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested at Turk Wanigam and Kadagam-Zainapora villages in Shopian area of Pulwama district today, the spokesman said, adding that 100 rounds, a wireless set and four handgrenades were seized from them.

Intensified patrolling in the valley led to the recovery of 8,337 rounds of ammunition, two rocket launchers, a wireless set at Nowgam at an under construction railway station, Kanihama, on the outskirts of Srinagar.

The police, assisted by security forces, also seized 1,323 rounds of ammunition and two magazines from a nullah at Chanapora in the city today, he said.

A pistol, one magazine and five rounds, four handgrenades and four under barrel grenade launchers were also seized from a forest area of Firken, under police station Trehgam in frontier district of Kupwara, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, militants shot at Abdul Majid at Gandoh in Doda district, injuring him in legs yesterday. They also chopped off his tongue.

Militants also killed a village defence committee member Mohammad Qasim in Ramban area of Doda district. Qasim had been kidnapped by militants two days ago, he said. — PTI