JAMMU: Militants in Kashmir have lately acquired sophisticated weaponry and communication equipment according to Lt-Gen D.S.R.Sahni, Amy Commander, and Northern Command.
Briefing newsmen, Gen Sahni said the army was particularly concerned that the militants may have acquired shoulder fired Stinger missiles although they have not made an appearance on the field.
Use of such missiles would naturally escalate the level of conflict, a prospect the powers that are supplying the weapons would not countenance, the army commander said.
Recent cordon and search operations in the valley have, however, uncovered costly sniper rifles and sophisticated communication equipment and there has also been a change of strategies by the militants. Gen Sahni said.
Another weapon used by the militants was vicious propaganda aimed at defaming the army and is actions such as “cordon and search operations.
Villagers have been ordered by militants to file First Information Reports (FIR) with police stations alleging rape and torture as a matter of routine after each army search, according to documents seized.
“With the danger of being fired al constantly with him, the last think on a soldier’s mind while undertaking something as dangerous as a search operation would be rape,” Gen Sahni said.
Whenever there was evidence indicating excesses, the officers conceded and men have drawn severe penalties and coven imprisonment and dismissal. Gen Sahni said.
The army‘s answer to the new weapons and lo the propaganda are increased vigil on the borders {o stop infiltration and a campaign to “win the hearts and minds of the people,” the Gen said. The result, according to Gen Sahni was, the isolation of 4 000 trained militants on the other side of the line of control in Pakistan occupied Kashmir.
Of the 8,000odd militants, the army estimates as still operating in the Valley, only about 4,000 were armed and posed any real and immediate danger. Over 1,500 militants have been shot dead by the army during the past Three years of counterinsurgency operations while close to 10,000 were in ‘custody according [o army records. By and large, the population of the Valley is “fence sitters” who do not want to be caught on the wrong side if things did not tum out the way they expected, Gen Sahi reckoned. For the present, he said, the army enjoyed enormous goodwill especially because it provided direct or indirect employment to about 50,000 people in the Valley. The militants, who are active in the Valley, are preparing themselves for a major offensive and the army is prepared 10 meet any threat from the pro Pakistan outfits, he said.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 22, 1993
