The Hindu : Farooq seeks Centre's help to flush out militants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 11, 2002

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Farooq seeks Centre's help to flush out militants

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR APRIL 10. Amid the booming of guns in Dandli village of Udhampur district, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today sought the Centre's help in launching a massive combing operation to flush out militants. Meanwhile, militants massacred five persons, including three children, in Doda.

Dr. Abdullah, who visited Dandli, where militants had gunned down seven persons and burnt down houses, told the grief-stricken villagers that he would take up with the Union Home Minister, L. K. Advani, deployment of additional security forces in the area.

Even as he was addressing the people, an exchange of fire between the militants and security forces took place in the higher reaches of the area.

Expressing serious concern over the situation, Dr. Abdullah said, "If necessary, Army assistance should be sought for eliminating militants''. Armed action had become necessary against terrorists who were responsible for bloodshed, he said adding "confidence has to be instilled among the locals''.

He acknowledged the valour of the people of the area and the Village Defence Committee members who fought the militants and said such fighting spirit was a fitting reply to the cult of violence perpetrated at the behest of the enemy across the border.

"Police posts are ill-equipped to fight militancy'' he observed. About the Sunday incident, he said militants had created havoc by setting houses on fire and killing innocents, including women and children.

"There are no words to express the magnitude of devastation in the village."

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