The Hindu : J&K security arrangements being reviewed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Sep 06, 2002

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J&K security arrangements being reviewed

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI SEPT. 5. As the security arrangements in Jammu and Kashmir are being monitored and more central paramilitary forces stationed on the eve of the first phase of Assembly polls less than two weeks away, militants have intensified their attacks, killing two political workers in Srinagar today.

Though sounding unaware of the killing of one worker each of the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar, the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, said it was a continuing problem in keeping with "our neighbour's eagerness to disrupt the poll process in the State".

Taking a serious view of the attacks on NC and PDP workers, senior Home Ministry officials said that the security arrangements were being reviewed at various levels in the North Block as well as in Srinagar. While admitting that "completely foolproof" security could not be provided to each and every political worker, officials said that all possible steps were being taken to thwart such attacks. Precautions were also being taken to guard against suicide attacks by the militants.

Officials connected with the preparation for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls said that attacks on political workers only showed the "desperation" on the part of militants who were out to disrupt the election process. They claimed that recent intercepts, emanating from across the border, indicated that militant groups were being asked to "do something" as desperation was growing with each passing day in their camps.

They admitted that about 60 political leaders had been threatened with "dire consequences" if they participated in the polls. The radical pro-Pakistani outfit, Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen, has given a call for boycotting the polls.

Senior officials claimed that recent trends in poll campaign in the State had showed the "healthy and good participation" of people in meetings and rallies in Sopore, Baramulla and the border regions of Uri and Kupwara.

They pointed out that dramatic developments on the political front had taken place in the past few days which, in their view, included the Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah's decision to quit State politics, happenings in the Hurriyat Conference and the anger of the people over the killing of the moderate Hurriyat leader, Abdul Gani Lone.

In the assessment of security analysts, the Centre's declaration that talks on Kashmir would continue even after the polls has also sent out a somewhat positive signal.

Meanwhile, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has sent additional 160 companies to the State for deployment during the polls. While 80 companies were deployed in the Jammu region, the rest have been put on duty in the Srinagar region. These are in addition to the existing 227 companies of CRPF already deployed in the State for law and order and counter-insurgency operations, a CRPF release said here.

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