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Centre refuses reinforcements to J&K govt

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The Jammu and Kashmir government finds itself in a spot after the Centre turned down its requests for additional paramilitary forces for the troubled Doda district.

The National Conference government wanted 60 companies of paramilitary forces withdrawn after the 1996 assembly election returned to the valley.

"We were not demanding additional forces but the return of only the 60 Central Reserve Police Force and Border Security Force companies deployed in the state before the election, but which were withdrawn in phases later," said one senior police officer. He said the government immediately needed five battalions for deployment in Doda district to crush militant activity.

The spread of militant violence into the hitherto peaceful Jammu region is posing a serious law and order problems since the topography suits the militants.

While the land is mostly flat and featureless in the valley, the mountains of the Jammu region make them an ideal location for militants. What alarms the authorities is that Doda and Udhampur cover an area about twice as large as the Kashmir valley. The state is also worried by selective targetting of unarmed Hindu civilians since this could raise communal tensions, one major militant motive, says state Director General of Police Gurbachan Jagat.

Following the incidents in Doda, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah recently announced the re-deployment of security forces in the remote mountainous reaches where the militants are active. Besides, he also strongly pressed for additional forces when Union Home Minister L K Advani visited the state last month, along with the ministers of defence, railway and power.

However, the Centre turned down the demand, citing the need for such forces in other troubled areas.

State Chief Secretary Ashok Jaitley however, said that, for the moment, J&K was managing well with what resources it had.

Jaitley said the government immediately needs self-loading rifles to be handed over to village defence committees and to special police officers. He hoped that requirement would soon be met.

The plan to establish VDCs by arming ex-servicemen and village youth is running into trouble since the VDCs, equipped with antiquated 303 rifles, are no match for the militants armed with automatic weapons.

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