J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

Rate of infiltration down: Army
JAMMU, Jan 4 — Pakistani agencies have lodged groups of militants in camps across the border in the Sialkot and Zaffarwal area for pushing them into the Jammu sector to extend militancy to the Udhampur and Kathua area.

A bus stand sans facilities
UDHAMPUR: The condition of the Udhampur bus stand is getting worse day by day. About 300 buses ply on different routes from this bus stand, which has a capacity of accommodating only 30 buses. Owing to overcrowding, the adjoining road remains closed for long periods. A large number of buses are parked at one time in the bus stand, due to which buses leave the stand late. One can see drivers arguing over the parking of vehicles. That is why buses of other states such Punjab and Himachal Pradesh always park their buses outside the bus stand.

Rate of infiltration down: Army
Tribune News Service

JAMMU, Jan 4 — Pakistani agencies have lodged groups of militants in camps across the border in the Sialkot and Zaffarwal area for pushing them into the Jammu sector to extend militancy to the Udhampur and Kathua area.

This was stated by Maj Gen H S Kanwar, Chief of Staff, Corps Headquarters to newsmen here today. Gen Kanwar said as a result of better border surveillance Pak-trained militants were finding it difficult to sneak into the Jammu sector. Because of the difficult terrain, some infiltration continued, but the rate of ingress had been reduced.

He claimed that a series of operations by troops in the Jammu region had forced militants away from direct encounters. and into rocket attacks from a distance.

He said that at least in the Jammu sector " Our boys have not allowed to Fidayeen (members of suicide squads) to escape whenever they dared enter an Army camp." In this connection he referred to the recent incident at Surankot in which two intruders who had barged into an army camp were killed. One army man was also killed and one hurt.

He said attacks on Army posts would not force "Us on the defensive." In fact " We have intensified our operations. As a result in 1999, 458 rebels were eliminated against 357 in 1998."

He said militant outfits had resorted to forcible recruitment of youths and some foreign mercenaries suffering from AIDs had been pushed into the state. He also mentioned the use of fake currency by militants.

Referring to allegations of human rights violations he said the authorities had received 955 allegations of which 822 were investigated and 798 found false. 56 soldiers and officers found guilty of human rights violations were punished.

He said less than 750 activists of various militant outfits were active in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur district.

He detailed a series of welfare measures taken by the army. These include renovation of school buildings, roads, drinking water supply schemes and installation of solar systems.

A bus stand sans facilities
From Romesh Gupta

UDHAMPUR: The condition of the Udhampur bus stand is getting worse day by day. About 300 buses ply on different routes from this bus stand, which has a capacity of accommodating only 30 buses. Owing to overcrowding, the adjoining road remains closed for long periods. A large number of buses are parked at one time in the bus stand, due to which buses leave the stand late. One can see drivers arguing over the parking of vehicles. That is why buses of other states such Punjab and Himachal Pradesh always park their buses outside the bus stand.

On account of lack of a full-fledged bus stand, matador stands are also scattered at six different places. They are also on the roadsides which creates a traffic problem.

The Sailan Talab bus stand is good having a lot of space but lacks maintenance. A traffic policeman is needed to control traffic and check improper parking.

The bus stand lacks facilities as not even drinking water is available there, neither is there a women’s toilet nor a waiting room. The booking office is in bad shape and there is no one to give information and answer queries.

The district administration had planned to shift bus stand four years back but the move was dropped. A site had been selected but due to dispute in payment to land owners, work could not proceed. This shows the government’s negligence and lack of planning.