Wednesday July 8, 1998
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Wednesday July 8, 1998 |
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BJP decries move to cut troop strength JAMMU, July 7 — The state unit of the BJP has expressed concern over the way security forces are being withdrawn from sensitive areas of the Jammu region when the ground realities called for the deployment of more troops and paramilitary forces... 250 have
'darshan' at Amarnath |
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APHC
Id procession tear-gassed SRINAGAR, July 7 — The police fired in air and lobbed tear gas shells in the Malisuma locality here today to prevent a procession of about 200 persons from going ahead to the Hazratbal shrine... Copter forcelands in Amarnath SRINAGAR, July 7 — A helicopter of the Army Aviation Corps while on a routine training flight developed a technical snag...  |
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| BJP decries move to cut troop strength Tribune News Service JAMMU, July 7 — The state unit of the BJP has expressed concern over the way security forces are being withdrawn from sensitive areas of the Jammu region when the ground realities called for the deployment of more troops and paramilitary forces. It has described the decision to reduce the strength of the security forces as "highly dangerous and enigmatic" because in areas where the security forces were withdrawn or their numbers reduced, militants resurfaced. Stating this at a press conference here today, the president of the state unit of the BJP, Mr D.K. Kotwal, said the current situation demanded immediate deployment of additional companies of the security forces in Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Doda districts in order to flush out insurgents. Mr Kotwal, who hails from the troubled Doda district, said in the absence of a foolproof security mechanism, the militants had been encouraged to move freely on the hilly belts between Rajouri and Udhampur-Doda areas. Some of the militants, he claimed, had been using horses as if they were lambardars and patwaris of the area. He said the reduction of security forces by 25 per cent had given the upper hand to the militants, especially foreign mercenaries. He said the BJP had fears that some vested interests in the state administration were lending support to the militants for carrying out ethnic cleansing of the four districts. Delay in action against the militants would lead to large-scale migration, he claimed. The BJP leader expressed shock over the way members of the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) were being discouraged. They were neither given better weapons nor adequate ammunition. He said the VDC members had been given .303 guns and when they fired one round they had to face 1,000 rounds from assault rifles of the insurgents. He said the VDC members were given only five rounds of ammunition after they spent five rounds, and it would take about a fortnight to replace the stock. Mr Kotwal alleged that surrendered militants who had been recruited in the police had started harassing people, especially BJP activists. He said these militants had been adjusted in the special operation group of the police and they usually indulged in extortion. |
| 250 have 'darshan' at Amarnath Tribune News Service SRINAGAR, July 7 — More than 250 pilgrims had "darshan" of the holy cave shrine of Amarnath since yesterday, while the total number of pilgrims who left for the "yatra" from Jammu during the past three days has gone up to about 5800. Those who had darshan included 121 piligrims who arrived at the shrine via Baltal route yesterday. The Baltal route via Sonmarg, 90 km from here on the Srinagar—Leh highway was opened for pilgrim traffic this year only. A limited number of pilgrims had also visited the shrine via Baltal route last year. The police here said that seven pilgrims who left Panjtarni, the last halting station on the Chandanwari-cave route, had "darshan" first this morning. Later about 100 pilgrims had left Panjtarni by 9 a.m. to cover a distance of 6 km on foot to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath. The distance on the high mountains is covered in about two hours. According to official figures available here as many as 2882 pilgrims boarded 137 vehicles, left Jammu this morning. Earlier at least 2900 pilgrims had arrived in Pahalgam from Jammu during the past two days. Giving details of the movement of the pilgrims on the Pahalgam-cave route, an official spokesman told The Tribune that out of a total of 1506 at Pahalgam only 86 had left for Chandanwari yesterday. Pahalgam is the base camp for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine. A 16 km distance from Pahalgam to Chandanwari is motorable where from a trek of 46 km to the cave starts. At least 305 pilgrims left Chandanwari today for Sheshnag to cover a distance of about 12 km. Chandanwari is at a height of 2895 metres from the sea level while Sheshnag is at a height of 3352 metres from the sea level. As many as 349 pilgrims today left Sheshnag (3352 metres) for Panjtarni (3657metres). A new batch of 691 pilgrims left Pahalgam this morning to reach Chandanwari for an onward trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath. |
| Fighting militants, terrain, elements Tribune News Service NAUGAM (Kupwara), July 7 — "We have an eye for militants and a heart for innocents", reads the inscription in black colour on a yellow stone along the road to this area, which falls close to the Line of Control in north Kashmir. This inscription speakes volumes about it the role of the Army engaged in counter-infiltration and counter-insurgency operations and assistance to the populace in deep jungles. During winters when the mountains are covered with deep snow, troops have more job in the depth area in the counter-insurgency operations. During summers, there is more activity in manning the Line of Control (LoC) against any infiltration. The summers have also to be utilised for stocking of all essential commodities for winter. The troops are assisted by local porters in stocking these essential commodities at high altitudes for the winters to come, as many roads to these areas remain cut off due to the heavy snow. The winters, therefore, also add to the difficulties of troops and local populace. The height of the mountains between 12000 feet to 13000 feet from the sea level thus lead to the lack of oxygen on the barren snow mountains and also lack of communication. "Barren hills and isolation from families for long" always haunt the jawans fighting a "proxy war" on the Line of Control (LoC), said an officer. "I could not get leave for the last 16 months have got an eight-month old child at home, which I have not seen so far", said one of the jawans. He adds that "how could I fight the bullets from the other side, when my mind is always preoccupied with thoughts of the family. "Aisay Haalat Mein Tou Goli Seenay mein Lag Jayegi", he adds. According to Col R.K. Kaushal, Commanding Officer, 6 Dogra, "extra-vigil is needed to fight the unprovoked firing by Pakistan, against infiltration and a potential enemy to maintain
the sanctity of the Line of Control". The officer
admits that jawans manning the LoC need a "moral
support to maintain this sanctity". While
maintaining the sanctity of the LoC, the jawans have to
face the brunt of nature under severe cold conditions.
Due to severe cold there are many casualties and there is
always a threat from the snow avalanches. There are at
least 27 such avalanches identified in this area only,
which have claimed more than 12 lives during the past
three years. "Every time there are some cansualties
due to snow avalanches", said the Officer.The condition of the local populace along the Mawar Nullah in the area is no different from the troops manning the Line of Control (LoC). a stretch of more than 10 km along the Nullah there is no bridge. In winter the people cannot cross the nullah and are cut off from the rest of the world. "After giving birth to a child a woman died this winter", as she could not be taken to a hospital, only about 20 km away at Handwara. There are many such cases in the area. They have access to the town in summer only. They do not have water, electricity, food, bridges and medical facilities. For a High School, the youngsters have to cross over to Qalamchakla village and that too in a fair weather only. According to Brigadier N.S. Rana "In this area, the Line of Control is very active. Pakistan indulge in artillery and mortar shelling almost daily on us". He adds that the firing is only to engage our troops in some areas and make good the
infliltration of foreign militants. The area has thick
forests, which Brig NS Rana said, makes it easy for
infiltration of militants from across the Line of Control
(LoC). "The infiltrators get themselves divided into
smaller groups of 10 to 12 militants, to minimise the
casualties after encounters with the vigilant troops in
the area. He adds that locals have shunned fear and are
now coming out with information about the presence of
militants.At least 16 infiltrators, most of them foreigners, were killed in separate encounters with troops between Thursday and Sunday last. "It followed heavy shelling in the area from across the LoC" Brig. NS Rana commented. Those killed were divided in three groups. The large group of nine militants was eliminated on July 2 and 3 in three separate groups in Beeranwali Khai, Bod Bangus and Neel Dori. Later two more were killed in the Rajwar area, all of them by the Dogra Scouts of the Army. Five others were killed near the line of Control by the troops of 6 Dogra deployed in the area. This catch of nine militants was based on specific information provided by the local populace, Col Rajiv Nayar of Dogra Scouts said. While the troops are engaged in such jobs especially during summers, they equally extend help and assistance to the local populace. In this connection a medical camp with the assistance of the district administration was conducted on July 4 and 5. Medicines worth Rs 50,000 were distributed among the villagers. The district administration also extended its help in the camp. The civil administration is unable to extend all facilities in these remote areas because of the lack of basic infrastructure. "On one hand we are engaged in counter-insurgency and counter-infiltration operations, and on the other hand we provide help to the local populace", said Col R.K Kaushal, Commanding Officer of 6 Dogra. The troops have adopted five families in each village and the responsibility of their food, clothing and financial requirements are that of the Army. The locals are engaged in carrying essential commodities for the winters, said an officer adding that the "responsibility is ours as they do not have any other source of income". Some of these families also participated in the two-day medical camp here. While engaged in its role to fight militants and assisting the local populace, a jawan is mostly homesick. While moving out on an annual leave of a few weeks, in a convoy of scores of vehicles with escorts, the only solace to him are the old and new film songs with "Sheeshak of Pardes". Such songs also give him solace while away from home. Songs like "Hum Tou Chaley Pardes, Hum Pardesi Ho gayae... "Jaatey Hou Pardes Pia, Jaatey Hi Khat Likhna..." and "Sandeshay aatay Hein Hamein Tarpatey Hein..." continue to give solace to the jawans defending the country far away from their homes. |
| APHC Id procession tear-gassed Tribune News Service SRINAGAR, July 7 — The police fired in air and lobbed tear gas shells in the Malisuma locality here today to prevent a procession of about 200 persons from going ahead to the Hazratbal shrine. The procession in connection with Id celebration, led by activists of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) was stopped at Madina Chowk where the police had put up barricades to prevent it from going ahead to the Hazratbal shrine from the Lal Chowk area. A number of activists, including Shakeel Ahmad Bakshi, Javed Ahmad Mir and Nayeem Ahmad Khan were apprehended by the police. There was a ding-dong battle between the processionists and the police for about two hours. When the lathi charge and lobbing of teargas shells did not disperse the people the police fired several rounds in air. Meanwhile, more than two lakh devotees offered prayers at the Hazratbal shrine, about 15 km from the heart of the city, this afternoon. A large number them offered special prayers throughout the night at the shrine. Thousands of people are visiting the shrine at prayer times. Transport arrangements have been made by the government for transporting devotees. Similar reports of celebration have been received from other shrines of the city and other parts of the valley. Copter forcelands in Amarnath Tribune News Service SRINAGAR, July 7 — A helicopter of the Army Aviation Corps while on a routine training flight developed a technical snag immediately after take-off at 2-45 pm on Monday and forcelanded at the helipad near the holy Amarnath cave. A Defence spokesman said here today that the engine of the helicopter caught fire damaging the helicopter. The pilots escaped without any injuries. An enquiry has been instituted to look into the cause of the accident. |
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