Jammu, May 16
Over 200 villages in the districts of Doda, Udhampur and Rajouri have been identified as sensitive by the security experts where the government plans to establish additional Village Defence Committees for tackling any threat from militants.

Soon after the massacre of 32 Hindus in Kulhand village in Doda and Basantgarh in Udhampur, the government has ordered constitution of 85 Village Defence Committees. Each committee will comprise six to eight members.

Instructions have gone to the Army authorities to impart training to fresh recruits in the handling of weapons. A senior police officer said here today that to begin with, the VDC members will be given training in handling of .303 guns. After the crash training course was over, each member of the committees will be provided one .303 gun and 50 bullets.

Attempt will be made to impart arms training in the villages. Those hailing from some inaccessible areas would be asked to assemble at a fixed spot for receiving the training.

Though during the recent review of the security scenario in the sensitive villages in Rajouri, Doda and Udhampur districts, experts had emphasised the need for strengthening VDCs, state government has plans to carry out an on-the-spot recruitment of able-bodied youths in the police in these sensitive areas so that after proper training they were posted in their ancestral villages for countering militant activities.

Though at present there were about 18,000 members in the Village Defence Committees in Poonch, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur and Doda districts, more than 200 additional committees were required for strengthening the security grid in the sensitive areas.

According to a senior state government functionary, in case the VDC members performed a sound job providing them sophisticated weapons could be considered if such a need was felt.

He said Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad has started taking personal interest in strengthening the security grid in the troubled Doda district and improving the road connectivity programme so that mobility of security forces and the VDC members was not affected.

The Chief Minister was of the view that peace in Doda district could ensure calm in Udhampur, Kathua and Rajouri also.

Jammu, May 16
Security forces today killed four terrorists of the Hizbul-Mujahideen in an encounter in the Banihal area of the Doda district.

Army sources said the militants were shot in an encounter when the security forces launched an operation in the Khari village of Banihal.

This is the first major killing of terrorists in the Doda district following the massacre of 32 Hindus near Doda and Udhampur earlier this month.

Security forces arrested two militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba in the Doodaj area of the Rajouri district.

The two ultras have been identified as Zulfikar Ahmad and Zulfikar Hussain. They were arrested from a hideout in the forest area.

Srinagar, May 16
As a part of the Centre sponsored schemes, the Jammu and Kashmir government is spending Rs 265.70 crore to improve supply of electricity in south Kashmir, an official spokesman said.

He said the 40 MVA and 50 MVA grid stations at Kulgam and Mattan are nearing completion at an estimated cost of Rs 26.45 crore. On completion, these stations would benefit 70,000 consumers of 120 villages of the twin districts of Pulwama and Anantnag. This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Nawang Rigzin Jora at a meeting held at Anantnag today.

The meeting was told that under Prime Minister’s economic package, work is going on at 300 MVA Mirbazar, 50 MVA Larkipora and 50 MVA Shopian grid stations with an expenditure of Rs 81.81 crore.

The laying of 220 KV Zainakot-Alasteing- Mirbazar, 132 KV Larkipora and 132 KV Lassipora-Shopian transmission lines is currently going on at an estimated cost of Rs 131.66 crore. Of this, Rs 19.80 crore has already been utilied for the purpose till March last. — UNI

Jammu , May 16
Students of Government Medical College boycotted classes here today to protest against the reservation policy of the government and the brutal police lathi charge on medicos at Mumbai and Delhi.

Resident doctors wore black bands, but did not strike work. Students came out of their classes and raised slogans against Union MinisterArjun Singh.