From Our Special Correspondent
If the reports trickling from across the Line of Control (LoC) are any indication, the menace of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir is set to assume serious proportions again.
According to reliable sources the mentors of terrorism operating from across the LoC have re-established their training camps, which were damaged due to devastating earthquake of October 8. In addition to this, several new camps as the Launching Pads have also been set up near the LoC from where the infiltration bids could be made at a short notice.
These reports got credence the other day when heavily armed terrorists infiltrated in combat dress in Krishan Ghati area of Poonch district bordering Pak-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). On being challenged by the Indian army the infiltrators resorted to heavy firing and also fired grenades. The army men retaliated and the fight continued for over five hours during the night. In this fight while six of the intruders were eliminated, a brave officer, Major James Thomas and a havaldar Sarbjeet Singh were martyred and four other soldiers got injured.
The recoveries made from the killed intruders were of great significance. These included 6-AK type rifles, 21 magazines, hundreds of rounds, large number of different types of grenades and explosive devices.
In addition to this a most modern Global Positioning System (GPS) alongwith a map, a compass, seven wireless sets, two satellite phones as also over Rs five lakh in Indian currency were found from the site of encounter.
The recovery of GPS?generally used by the regular army in guerrilla warfare in the mountainous areas?has taken a new development in the on going armed militancy for the past 16 years.
Another significant development in this bid was that it was made by the infiltrators from near the Chakka-da-Bagh, the place which was recently opened for meeting the people of both sides of the LoC from where the truck loads of relief was handed over to Pak authorities for the help of the victims of earthquake.
The ISI designs were also frustrated on January 17 when the security forces and Police jointly recovered a big haul of arms, ammunitions and explosives from outskirts of Jammu city. These explosives and weaponry were reportedly meant for creating disturbances on the eve of Republic Day.
The arms, ammunition, explosives were dumped near the most strategic places of Jammu Airfield, Cantonment as also M.A. Stadium which was the venue of main function of Republic Day celebrations.
It may be recalled here that in the 1995 attack by the subversives on the Republic Day in M.A. Stadium as many as 12 persons were killed and 58 others were injured. In these blasts the then Governor, General K.V. Krishana Rao (Retd.) had very narrow escape.
Notwithstanding the confidence building measures to have peace and friendship between India and Pakistan, there is no let up in the designs of ISI of Pakistan and its propaganda mill. During the month of January, 2006 alone about 70 persons have been killed and over 200 injured in the grenade attacks blasts, including 47 terrorists. Out of them more than two dozen were foreigners.
Fed up with the situation 27 of the Pak-trained militants including a Deputy Divisional Commander of Hizbul Majahideen named Vaseem Kishtwari have surrendered. He had also made quite sensational disclosures about the Paki designs. At the home front the secessionists too, are showing the signs of both frustration as also that of heightening the tensions.
