The Tribune...Jammu and Kashmir

J A M M U C& CK A S H M I R

Monday July 6, 1998

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Advani fails to keep word
JAMMU, July 5 —When the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, visited Chapnari, where 25 persons were massacred, and Premanagr areas of Doda 12 days ago, he had assured the already scared people that as soon as he reached Delhi...
Valley may face foodgrain crisis
JAMMU, July 5 —The Kashmir valley is in for a major foodgrain crisis if over one lakh tonnes of rice and wheat are not lifted from five railway stations in the north zone...

Pak firing: jawan hurt, 8 houses damaged
SRINAGAR, July 5 —Pakistani troops once again shelled Indian positions in the Jammu region last night...

Advani fails to keep word
From M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, July 5 — When the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, visited Chapnari, where 25 persons were massacred, and Premanagr areas of Doda 12 days ago, he had assured the already scared people that as soon as he reached Delhi, additional companies of paramilitary forces would be despatched to the troubled district for arresting the activities of the militants.
Till today not a single jawan has been added to the already depleted strength of the security forces deployed in the state's largest district as far as the area is concerned. Between Mr Advani's visit and his return to the Union Capital at least five persons have been killed by militants which included a woman who was killed in an encounter between militants and the Army.
The inordinate delay in rushing additional companies of the security forces and in equipping the members of the village defence committees (VDCs) has started giving rise to undercurrents of resentment against the BJP government at the Centre. Reports from Doda, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah reveal that people speak in critical veins against the BJP-led central government because despite commitment made by Mr Advani not a single VDC had been provided with automatic weapons.
Government circles in Doda district say that judged by the terrain and the area the existing 13 battalions of the security forces were too inadequate to meet the new threats from the militants.
There are at present nine battalions of the Rashtriya Rifles and four of the CRPF. Of the one battalion of the state police a majority of the police personnel are deployed as security officers of political leaders and government officers.
Those connected with maintaining law and order in the district are of the opinion that the area needed at least 23 battalions of the security forces. They pity the lack of sense of timing on the part of the authorities to sanction additional companies. In this connection they refer to an incident of 1990, when militancy had not raised its head in Doda district, in which the district police chief had demanded two companies of the BSF for halting the march of the militants. The force was not sanctioned and the result was that Doda district has been reeling under insurgency for the past six years.
What has added to the fears of the people is the inability expressed by members of the VDCs to fight the militants with .303 guns and that too without ammunition. They told Mr Advani that they needed better weapons to take on the foreign mercenaries who were in possession of sophisticated arms. Mr Advani assured them that they would get better weapons soon.
Apart from the shortage of man and machine power, the security forces have been almost "immobilised" owing to shortage of vehicles and on account of a large number of jeeps and cars having been grounded because of breakdown in machinery. Reports suggest that between 25 to 35 per cent of the police Gypsies and jeeps are off the road.
Continued infiltration from across the border and freedom of movement for militants, especially foreign mercenaries, in moving from South Kashmir pockets of Anantnag and Pulwama and from Poonch and Rajouri to the Doda Kishtwar belt have allowed insurgents to carve safe sancturies in the upper reaches of the district.
Over the years selective killings by militants have generated communal polarisation with Bhaderwah showing signs of prolonged communal tension. Any more major strikes by militants could lead to a big communal trouble and as such experts argue that tackling militancy in Doda district could restore peace in South Kashmir and the neighbouring Udhampur district.
A police officer said that the current summer season was an ideal period for the security forces to smash the hideouts of militants in the hilly belts and for that additional forces were needed to launch massive operations against the rebels.

Valley may face foodgrain crisis
Tribune News Service
JAMMU, July 5 — The Kashmir valley is in for a major foodgrain crisis if over one lakh tonnes of rice and wheat are not lifted from five railway stations in the north zone.
These bags of rice and wheat are not being lifted following a confrontation between the FCI and labourers, the latter demanding the regularisation of their services and improvement in their service conditions.
Reports said these bags of rice and wheat, procured by the FCI for Jammu and Kashmir, are lying on and around railway stations in Jammu, Hiranagar, the Ludhiana-Ambala belt and Jalandhar. Several thousand bags are lying in railway wagons. The labourers have refused to lift the bags during the past 12 days.
Official sources said the foodgrains could be damaged by rain if there was further delay in the settlement of the dispute. Senior FCI officials were not available in Jammu for comment.
According to the Divisional Traffic Manager, Northern Railway, Mr R.P. Pal, efforts were on to finalise a settlement.
The FCI, official sources said, would have to pay damages to the Railways for not lifting the bags of foodgrains within the stipulated period. In case of further delay the Railways would be faced with a wagon shortage.
Reports said a part of the foodgrain stocks was meant to be transported to Ladakh.
The food shortage in Kashmir can assume serious dimensions as paddy transplantation has just been completed, indicating that the rice reserves in the valley have been exhausted.
What has worried the state authorities is the possibility of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway getting blocked by landslides at any time.

Pak firing: jawan hurt, 8 houses damaged
SRINAGAR, July 5 (PTI) — Pakistani troops once again shelled Indian positions in the Jammu region last night, wounding a jawan and damaging eight houses, an official spokesman said.
He said Pakistani Rangers, using heavy machine guns, targeted nine border outposts at R.S. Pura and Samba sub-Sectors and some villages at Arnas sector, forcing Indian troops to retaliate.
A jawan was wounded and eight houses were damaged in the Pak firing, which broke the two-day lull in border areas the spokesman said.
The intermittent exchange of fire, beginning 10 pm lasted six hours.
JAMMU: Meanwhile a hardcore militant was killed in a shootout with the BSF at Mahore in Udhampur district yesterday. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the scene.
Militants abducted and killed Mir Hussain in the Poonch area. His body was picked up by the police yesterday. Militants also kidnapped a person in Doda district's Dalwa village and later killed him.