NEW DELHI: Concerned about the sudden spurt in violent activities by the militants in towns like Doda in Jammu and Kashmir, the Center has rushed six additional companies of paramilitary forces to the state in a determined effort to comb these far-flung areas and isolate the terrorist elements.
The strategy of the militants and their masters from across the border appears to be to shift their scene of activity from the Kashmir valley to other areas in the sensitive border state aimed at alienating the people in the Jammu region,
Highly placed sources said the additional companies of paramilitary forces rushed to Kashmir recently, will be deployed in Doda town and neighboring areas where the militants are trying to whip up communal passions and create chaos,
The assessment of intelligence agencies is that as the militants are finding it rather difficult to infiltrate into the country through the traditional routes because of the steps taken by the Army and the Border Security Force, they are trying to sneak in from the Poonch and Rajouni districts in the Jammu sector.
There was a detailed review of the situation in Kashmir in the home ministry here recently in the light of the changed tactics of the militants and their efforts to create unrest in areas which had been peaceful all along. The Center and the state government views these developments as yet another attempt by the militants to divert the attention of the paramilitary forces from one terrain to the Poonch and Rajouri sectors in Jammu.
What the Center has found disquieting is the fact that the militants are now trying to infiltrate from the Jammu region and then proceed their respective ways either to the Valley and other areas in the state or Punjab.
The sources admitted that Doda town was witness to some violent incidents and tension ran high over there, This was also on account of the mishandling of the situation by the local police in nabbing a militant holed up in a house in that town. The militants tried to use the occasion of Janamashtami and the Chillum procession last month to whip up frenzy.
Shiv Sena activists in Jammu region have been highly exercised over the Doda and other incidents, Besides, a BJP fact-finding team which had toured the border districts in Jammu region had demanded that these should be declared as disturbed areas and handed over to the army.
A detailed assessment of the militants activities over the last few years shows that they step up violence in July and August and try to create disturbances particularly during the Independence Day celebrations on August 15, the sources said and added that despite the threats, the flag-hoisting ceremony was held in all the districts and teasels of the state.
The Center is keen on creating conditions for starting the political process in the troubled state, The Prime Minister has stated that governors rule is no substitute for a duly-elected government.
Rao has also said that Pakistan was fighting a proxy way by interfering in Indias internal affairs. He said the effort by those across the border to create conditions of unrest and encourage forces of secessionism had to be tackled effectively.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 11, 1992
