JAMMU: The Governor Gen K.V. Krishna Rao (Retd) has been given three months for showing result is in the trouble-tom Kashmir According to informed sources ‘the Prime Minister P.V Narasimha Rao has for the time being rejected suggestions from Congress and ‘National Conference leaders for changing the Governor. Instead he is said to have conveyed to General ‘Rao that curbing militancy has become imperative in view of the Center’s keenness on starting the political process and holding the ‘assembly elections. The Governor has been told in clear terms to ‘dreams line anti-insurgency measures in such a way as would show results within three months

The sources claim that at one stage he names of three politicians were considered for the post of Governor in Jammu and Kashmir but the Prime minister’s last minute intervention delayed the recall of General Rao who has sought more time for initialing strong measures against militants.

In recent public utterances the governor made it clear that his ministration would not feel shy of coming down heavily on militancy adding that insurgency would be crushed shortly. It is with this objective that additional security forces have been sent to Kashmir recently. Some of the companies of the security forces which were withdrawn from Punjab recently are being deployed in Kashmir for intensifying combing operations. Official sources said the Army authorities had informed the state administration that the paramilitary forces and the police should be used for dealing with minor law and order problems and for carrying out search operations The Army would step in wherever there was need for undertaking massive combing operations in areas considered to be the stronghold of militants including foreign mercenaries. However the stale government had decided to utilize the Army in nightly sensitive areas where well-entrenched militants including Afghan guerrillas were equipped with sophisticated weapons

The sources indicated that besides taking strong anti-insurgency measures the Governor planned to revamp the state administration He had reportedly agreed to accept some of the suggestions made by Dr.Farooq Abdullah. A major shakeup in the civil administration and the police is likely to be finalized after General Rao returns to Srinagar next week.

Bureaucrats feel at such steps will open another front against the government.

Article extracted from this publication >> May 13, 1994