J A M M U   &   K A S H M I R

NC, Centre blamed for J&K security crisis
Jammu, July 24
Launching his first scathing attack on the National Conference and the BJP-led NDA government, the PCC president, Mr Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, said both ruling parties were responsible for the deteriorating security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.

Forces want villages clustered
Security not possible otherwise, say officers
Somewhere in Northern Sector, July 24
Phones and hotlines are ticking. Messages are exchanged on computers and faxes between field officers and those manning the Corps Headquarters. Reports keep coming about the latest security situation. These are tabulated and discussed at a high level.

Indian, Pak troops exchange fire
Jammu, July 24
Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu division, where five militants were gunned down during an exfiltration bid since last night, a defence spokes-man said here today.

Udhampur bandh peaceful
Udhampur, July 24
A peaceful bandh was observed by people of the town in protest against the killings of innocent people by militants in the Kishtwar area. The bandh call was given by the Shiv Sena , the BJP and other political parties.

Police refutes Shabir Shah’s allegation
Srinagar, July 24
The police today refuted the allegation of the Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Shah that CRPF personnel were involved in the July 21 killings of Amarnath pilgrims at Sheshnag.

J&K releases another DA instalment
Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has released another instalment of dearness allowance to its employees and pensioners with effect from January this year.

NC, Centre blamed for J&K security crisis
Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 24
Launching his first scathing attack on the National Conference and the BJP-led NDA government, the PCC president, Mr Mohammad Shafi Qureshi, said both ruling parties were responsible for the deteriorating security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Qureshi told newspersons here today that while the National Conference led by Dr Farooq Abdullah had patronised militancy at one stage or the other, the Central Government had given recognition to the Pakistan President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, by inviting him to the Agra summit.

He made it clear that Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee had demonstrated sound statesmanship while agreeing to resume the Indo-Pak dialogue but his colleagues and bureaucrats had bungled at different levels. The result was that the Kashmir issue which was “almost dead” was given a new lease of life by the NDA government, he said. He stated that General Musharraf was exploiting the recognition granted to him and had started raking up the Kashmir issue more strongly.

Mr Qureshi alleged that militancy in the state was a “gift from the National Conference” and expressed surprise over the way the BJP had aligned with the National Conference.

He also alleged that while the National Conference was supporting Muslim communalism, the BJP was siding with Hindu communal forces. He said that the Farooq regime had failed on all fronts and whenever the next Assembly elections were held, they should be conducted under some central agency so that the National Conference would not be allowed to manipulate the victory of its candidates.

When reminded that the Congress was also supporting the resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue, Mr Qureshi said the Congress had not expected the Indian Government to lionise General Musharraf.

In reply to a question, he denied that there was any rift in the Jammu and Kashmir Congress and said he had demonstrated his strength by organising a massive public rally in Jammu recently.

Mr Qureshi accused both the state government and the Centre of ignoring the problems of border migrants who were leading a miserable life in Akhnoor sector.

Forces want villages clustered
Security not possible otherwise, say officers
M.L. Kak
Tribune News Service

Somewhere in Northern Sector, July 24
Phones and hotlines are ticking. Messages are exchanged on computers and faxes between field officers and those manning the Corps Headquarters. Reports keep coming about the latest security situation. These are tabulated and discussed at a high level.

There is a flurry of activity after the massacres in Kishtwar and the series of successes the security forces have achieved in Poonch and Rajouri districts, eliminating a large number of hardcore foreign mercenaries.

“Militants are not only on the defensive, but on the run in Poonch and Rajouri border districts,” claims a senior Army officer.

The authorities are clear that it is not possible to deploy troops and other forces in every village and on every mountain route in the four districts of Poonch, Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur, where militants have been active for the past over seven years.

Their argument carries weight when they explain that it is not the number that matters, but the area in which groups of militants operate. They cite the example of Doda district and explain that with about 11691 sq km area, it is the largest district in the state. “Is it possible for us to deploy troops on an inch-by-inch basis, they question. They say besides Doda district, the total area of Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur districts is over 8854 sq km. More than 25 per cent of the total area in these four districts is hilly forest belts.

Over the past 35 years, people have built huts and dhoks in these hilly belts 30-70 km from the main roads. The officers explain three-five families comprise a hamlet. Such hamlets dot the upper reaches of Kishtwar, Doda, Bhaderwah, Poonch, Udhampur and Rajouri. All are inaccessible.

“Even during combing operations, it takes three-four days for our fleet-footed men to reach such villages from the tehsil headquarters,” say officers at the Corps Headquarters.

Tracing historical, social and economic factors for the growth of these hamlets, state government functionaries explained that with grazing areas getting squeezed and the population on the increase, causing a split in the joint family system, families had left in search of better pastures for their cattle. All such families remained below the poverty line. Hence, they felt no threat from burglars and other criminals.

But the rise in militancy has posed a serious threat to these tiny hamlets and people living in these are treated as “soft targets.” They are killed to create tension and to foment communal polarisation.

People living in these hamlets or in hilly dhoks have been forced to serve as couriers by the militants. Their houses are used as shelters and when such help is refused, they are killed.

What is the solution? Senior officers of different security agencies say in one voice that the state and Central governments should formulate a programme for creating conditions in which small families living in isolated and tiny hamlets are given a chance for “community life.”

More than 50-100 families should group together and inhabit a village where, with government assistance, they can have better living facilities.

“If there are 655 villages in Doda district more than 150 are unregistered in the sense that they are tiny hamlets occupied by two to three families,” senior Army officers point out. “If at least dwellers of 200 isolated hamlets start community living, we can provide security cover,” they say.

Once militants know that each hamlet is inhabited by more than 500 persons they may not venture to strike. This will also help the government to implement various development works by way of opening schools in these cluster of villages and setting up medical centres.

They say the task is difficult but they opine once a beginning is made, people will welcome the plan. In such a case, the villagers can defend themselves against any militant strike.

“The experiment is worth trying when there is no sign of an early end to sponsored militancy in the state,” another officer says.

Indian, Pak troops exchange fire

Jammu, July 24
Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged heavy fire along the international border and the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu division, where five militants were gunned down during an exfiltration bid since last night, a defence spokes-man said here today.

The spokesman said troops spotted a group of armed ultras exfiltrating via the Rajouri sector today and challenged them. However, they fired on the troops, who retaliated in which all five of them were killed. While three bodies of slain militants were recovered, two others could not be retrieved as Pakistani troops were heavily firing in the area with mortars.

In another incident, Pakistani troops opened heavy fire in the forward area of the Suchetgarh sector along the international border last night with a view to infiltrating a group of militants. PTI

Udhampur bandh peaceful
Our Correspondent

Udhampur, July 24
A peaceful bandh was observed by people of the town in protest against the killings of innocent people by militants in the Kishtwar area. The bandh call was given by the Shiv Sena , the BJP and other political parties.

All shops, banks and other business establishments remained closed and buses remained off the road during the bandh.

Last evening, a procession was also taken out by the people in the main streets of the town. Effigies of Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah were burnt at the Indra chowk.

The people also demanded the dismissal of the National Conference Government. They also sought adequate security in the troubled areas of Doda and Udhampur.

Traffic was blocked by the Shiv Sena and BJP activist near the Salathia chowk for about three hours.

Peaceful bandh was also observed in Kishtwar and Ramban towns of Doda district.

Police refutes Shabir Shah’s allegation

Srinagar, July 24
The police today refuted the allegation of the Democratic Freedom Party president Shabir Shah that CRPF personnel were involved in the July 21 killings of Amarnath pilgrims at Sheshnag.

Reacting sharply to the allegation that appeared in newspapers today, a police spokesperson said the charge was aimed at creating confusion about an incident that was clearly planned and executed by the Lashkar-e-Toiba to step up violence after the Agra summit.

Any effort to blame this carnage on the security forces was an attempt to bail out militants who had no respect for any religion or human lives, he added.

He also ridiculed attempts to link the carnage with the police-CRPF rivalry and said there were no differences between the forces at Sheshnag. UNI

J&K releases another DA instalment

Srinagar, July 24
The Jammu and Kashmir Government has released another instalment of dearness allowance (DA) to its employees and pensioners with effect from January this year.

The order also apply to All-India Service officers serving the affairs of the state. UNI