JAMMU: The Jammu & Kashmir governor, G.C.Saxena, has said the mounting of pressure on militants by security forces has helped in checking their activities in Kashmir valley.
“Whenever the militants started feeling the pressure on them they Organized extremists activities some parts of Jammu region also in the hope that the pressure of security forces would be lessened with deployment of forces in other parts of the state,” the governor said.
“But the pressure on militants will continue to be maintained and all efforts’ of our neighboring country will be defeated,” Saxena said while addressing the district advisory group for district development board at Udhampur.
He said three years old militancy in the valley has affected the entire state and Udhampur could not remain aloof from it.
He said some incidents have also taken place in the district but it Bes to the credit of the people of Udhampur as the militancy has not been allowed to rise.
The governor in his speech developed at length on special problems of Udhampur district and Said these will be sorted out.
He said with a view to enlisting public cooperation, the government has constituted nonofficial committees at village level, which will monitor the development works.
Saxena said to exploit the mineral resources at a large scale in the district, Rs 40 crore magnecite projects is being setup at Panthal in Joint sector.
The state government would contribute 26% of its cost and Rs 1 crore has been kept for it in the Eighth Plan, He said there is greater need for promotion of industrial sector in the district and more and more people should be motivated to take up such venture which would not only improve the economy of the district but create avenues for employment.
Referring to the vast potential to tourism in the district, he said there was need for greater thrust for development of beautiful areas so that Vaishno Devi pilgrims are also attracted.
He said 35 lakh pilgrims visit Vaishnodevi every year and they are contributing Rs 300 crore to the economy of Jammu and Udhampur annually.
Meanwhile, the security forces killed four militants including a self-styled section commander of a militant outfit, arrested 10 others and rescued a hostage in Kashmir valley recently.
Militants set ablaze a number of government buildings and abducted chief engineer of National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC-Uri), G.C.Codra. He was later set free as the army mounted fescue operation, an official spokesman told reporters recently.
Codra, and his personal assistant, who were traveling in a jeep from Uri to Baramulla, were stopped by militants at Gantamulla and abducted, however, after a few hours of captivity they were set free.
Another hostage, Ghulam Abbas, resident of Bun-Doda, who was abducted by militants was rescued by the police the next day, the spokesman said, adding militants had tortured the rescued person.
The spokesman said two militants including a section commander of @ militant outfit were killed in an exchange of fire between militants and the security forces at Asham in Baramulla district.
A security Jawan was also injured in the encounter, the spokesman said.
Two other militants were killed in Zaldager area of Srinagar during search operations, the spokesman said.
Two rifles, a pistol and some ammunition were recovered from the deceased militants, the spokesman said.
He said six militants were arrested at Chak-Dhudipora Magam and Talar-Nallah in Kupwara district and four from Anantnag district during search operations.
Militants set on fire six quarters of public works department at Dedpath Doda in Jammu region. Two of these quarters were being used as dispensary, panchayat Garh and agriculture office.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 5, 1993
