Search the Internet          Tips

Little impact of declaring Jammu 'disturbed area'

Binoo Joshi in Jammu

Ten days after security forces were given sweeping powers to combat militancy in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, there has been no dramatic improvement, though the number of voices against the move have increased.

The Disturbed Areas Act was extended to four districts of the Jammu region - Jammu, Udhampur, Doda and Kathua - on August 11.

Now, the act is in force in the entire state barring Ladakh.

Jammu was hitherto considered a peaceful zone, even as militancy raged in the Valley.

The extension of the act came after three major incidents of violence in Doda, where 27 Hindu villagers were killed and a shootout at Jammu's railway station claimed 15 lives.

The increased powers notwithstanding, the security forces are fighting shy of going into areas where militants are believed to be holed up.

"We have conducted searches in the hinterland in Doda, Poonch and Rajouri and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition, but we cannot act in Jammu city because that is the responsibility of the police," a senior army officer told IANS.

There is another handicap. The security forces say their numbers are inadequate in a terrain that comprises mountains, ravines and thickly forested areas.

According to official estimates, the Jammu region has about 70,000 security personnel, including the state police. In addition, there are about 120,000 army troops guarding the Line of Control.

"We require almost double the number to mount a real offensive against the militants," an army officer said, adding that "at the moment, our positions are more or less defensive."

As for the police, it claims it is handicapped because of the political pressures at work in the state. "We are chained," a police officer said.

"Leaders of the All-Parties Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups are moving around openly in the Valley. How does anyone expect that the police in Jammu would do what is not being done in Kashmir?" asked a middle-rung officer.

"Enough is enough. We have to give more powers to the security forces to fight these bloodthirsty terrorists," Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah had said after the massacre at Jammu station. Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani echoed similar sentiments in Parliament.

But these words have little meaning for the Hindus of Jammu. Just four days after the Disturbed Areas Act was extended to the region, five Hindus were massacred at Mahore in Udhampur on August 14.

Little wonder then that the Disturbed Areas Act has been described by some as a remedy worse than the disease.

Indo-Asian News Service

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report