Uptrend in militancy after Kargil
JAMMU, Dec 30 — The year passing by in the valley saw an increase in militancy-related incidents following the failure of the Kargil invasion and a turnout in the 13th Lok Sabha elections that reflected the courage of the Kashmiris to stand up to sponsored terrorism and their faith in the democratic process.

33 SSPs shifted in J&K
JAMMU, Dec 30 — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfer and posting of 33 Senior Superintendents of Police in a bid to further streamline the functioning of the police department in the state.

RAW chief Dulat in Jammu
JAMMU, Dec 30 — The sudden visit of the RAW chief, Mr A.S. Dulat, to Jammu this afternoon has fuelled speculation that the security set-up in Jammu and Kashmir was being revamped to prevent militants from carrying out armed attacks on the camps, units and pickets of the Army, paramilitary forces and the police.

J&K staff extend stir till Jan 15
JAMMU, Dec 30 — Jammu and Kashmir Government employees have extended their ongoing ‘no work’ strike till January 15 rejecting the government’s proposal to suspend it.

Uptrend in militancy after Kargil

JAMMU, Dec 30 (UNI) — The year passing by in the valley saw an increase in militancy-related incidents following the failure of the Kargil invasion and a turnout in the 13th Lok Sabha elections that reflected the courage of the Kashmiris to stand up to sponsored terrorism and their faith in the democratic process.

During the past 11 months in the Kashmir valley where the Centre is pursuing a pro-active policy to improve the security scenario, 993 militants were killed and 668 were apprehended. As many as 281 foreign mercenaries were killed and 12 apprehended during encounters with the security forces and the Jammu and Kashmir police. As many militants surrendered.

During and after the Kargil intrusions, the militant activities in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the border districts, showed a slight upward trend for some months.

The dissolution of the 12th Lok Sabha into the announcement of fresh elections and the reverses suffered in Kargil by Pakistan had contributed to some increase in militancy-related incidents, officials in the Home Ministry feel.

The militant and terrorist outfits, including the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, had given a poll boycott call and also threatened the public, including government employees of dire consequences if they participated in the election process. However, participation of more than 37 per cent of the voters in the poll process reflected courage of the people of continue their fight against the sponsored terrorism and their faith in the democratic process.

The situation in the state is kept under constant review by the state and central governments. A review of the security situation at the level of the Home Minister was done at a high level meeting convened by Mr L.K. Advani on November 17. The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Finance Minister, the Defence Minister and the Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, attended it.

Some of the steps taken by the government to forestall evil designs of the ISI include reinduction of more security forces, pro-active militant operations in the hinterland, reorganisation of intelligence apparatus to give advance information regarding the movement of militants, setting up of additional naka parties to check infiltration and exfiltration on the border and the LoC and maintain a constant vigil, cordon and search operations to flush out militants and the strengthening of village defence committees to effectively deal with militancy.

In order to effectively coordinate and monitor the progress of major development projects being implemented in the state for which funds are being released by the Centre through various ministeries, a standing committee on J and K ws constituted on October 5 under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary with the Secretaries of various ministries and departments as members.

The Annual Plans of J and K are being financed primarily from the Central assistance. As a special measure, the Government of India covered the non-Plan gap of the state by way of special Central assistance and special plan assistance, besides protecting the Plan size. The annual Plan for 1992-2000 for hte state was approved at Rs 1750 crore which includes Rs 850 crore as special Central assistance and Rs 300 crore as special plan assistance.

An operation group under the chairmanship of the Special Secretary (J and K) has been set up in the Home Ministry to have a periodic review of the security situation in the state, including the intelligence inputs, develoyment of central paramilitary forces (CPMF) and coordination of the internal security-related operations with J & K officers, paramilitary forces, Ministry of Defence and intelligence agencies, who are members of this group.

A number of steps have been taken to strengthen the capabilities of the Jammu and Kashmir police. Two India Reserve battalions were sanctioned to the state in December, 1998, for which the Centre will bear the raising cost Rs 15 crore per battalion. An advance of rs 7.5 crore has been released to the state to enable it to raise the battalions.

Additional posts of 5145 special police officer have been sanctioned iwth effect from September 1 the expenditure on which will be reimbursed by the Centre. These posts have been sanctioned over and above the strength of 12,855 for which the Government of India has been reimbursing the cost.

There are two unified headqurters working under the chairmanship of J and K Chief Minister at Jammu and Srinagar with the corps commanders of 15 and 16 Corps as security advisers.

The Central Government has been reimbursing the security-related expenditure (SRE) to J&K from 1990 onwards in respect of admissible items, identified from time to time.

The Centre has decided to continue for another two years the package of special incentives for Central Government employees posted in the Kashmir valley. It has also been decided to continue for next two years the age relaxation of five years in the upper age limit while seeking employment in central civil services and posts.

Due to regular ongoing intense cross border firing, a large number of people in villages adjacent to the LoC have got displaced. A total of 23,611 persons comprising about 4000 families in Kargil and about 300 families in Leh have got displaced. In addition, there are reports of displacement of 46,000 families from the Jammu area. A sum of Rs 17 crore has been released so far for providing relief to the displaced persons.

An action plan for return and rehabilitation of Kashmir migrants submitted by the state government is under active consideration of the Centre.

33 SSPs shifted in J&K

JAMMU, Dec 30 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has ordered the transfer and posting of 33 Senior Superintendents of Police in a bid to further streamline the functioning of the police department in the state.

The orders were issued by the Home Department yesterday on the recommendations of Director-General of Police, official sources said here today.

Earlier, on December 20 the state Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, had transferred and posted 30 senior police officers in a bid to tone up the police administration.

The transfers then included four Additional DGs, eight IGs and six DIGs.

RAW chief Dulat in Jammu
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Dec 30 — The sudden visit of the RAW chief, Mr A.S. Dulat, to Jammu this afternoon has fuelled speculation that the security set-up in Jammu and Kashmir was being revamped to prevent militants from carrying out armed attacks on the camps, units and pickets of the Army, paramilitary forces and the police.

Mr Dulat is scheduled to have a detailed discussion with Governor, G.C. Saxena, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and other senior functionaries of the state government to know the problems the state faced as far as security related matters were concerned.

Informed sources said on his return the RAW chief will submit a report to the Union Home Ministry on the latest security situation in the state and the measures needed to checkmate foreign mercenaries who have targeted the police and other security agencies in the state during the past four months.

The state government has already conveyed to the Home Ministry that in the light of the offensive launched by the militants in various parts of the state, additional battalions of paramilitary forces needed to be rushed to the state to cover several grey areas.

The state has also demanded either additional funds for purchase of better weapons for the police or supply of arms and ammunition direct from the Home Ministry. These aspects along with allied security related matters would be discussed by Mr Dulat here. He is also collecting a dosier regarding the number of foreign mercenaries and their antecedents so that in case the demand by the hijackers of the Indian Airlines plane had to be conceded the government would first examine the history sheet of the rebels.

J&K staff extend stir till Jan 15

JAMMU, Dec 30 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Government employees have extended their ongoing ‘no work’ strike till January 15 rejecting the government’s proposal to suspend it.

The decision to this effect was taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee, which is spearheading the agitation, at a meeting here late last evening.

A JKEJAC spokesman said the meeting decided to continue the agitation till all their demands were met. However, it decided to relax the agitation for a week in Kashmir division from January 1, 2000, in view of the Id festival, he added.

Regretting the state government’s "indifferent attitude" towards the demands of the employees, he said the administration did not initiate any steps to resume the talks.

The JKEJAC has been demanding fulfilment of its 17-point charter of demands, including disbursement of two instalments of dearness allowance and Fifth Pay Commission arrears.

Meanwhile, work in government offices and hospitals continued to remain paralysed for the 11th consecutive day today.