The Hindu : No breakthrough yet in Kathua

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Saturday, Sep 06, 2003

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No breakthrough yet in Kathua

By Luv Puri

Kathua Sept. 5. A breakthrough remained elusive today for the Army in the battle against the seven suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba militants holed up in the Ghati forests of Kathua even as intermittent firing continued. The Army had taken over the operational command from police and the Central Reserve Police Force on Thursday.

All through Thursday night Army commanders had been instructing the troops in the forward positions. The militants did not fire a single shot during the night and the troops tactically halted their advance to wait for daybreak. In the morning, heavy rain lashed the region thwarting the Army's plans for moving ahead. A Special Police officer has been killed and nine security personnel injured in the encounter which began on Tuesday evening.

Briefing reporters, Atul Gupte of the 78th Brigade denied reports that the militants had managed to escape and said the operation would be over soon. The troops, numbering about 1,000, were prepared for a protracted battle, he said.

According to a senior Army officer, "the militants will soon try to break our cordon after being in the forests for four days and inevitably they will be killed as there is a thick security cover."

Locals say the militants could be holed up in any of the numerous hideouts constructed for hunting purposes. With all focus on the encounter, the residents of Ghati are spending sleepless nights. Initially, they fought with the militants along with police. Now, they have begun running errands for the Army troops. The residents of the surrounding villages such as Bada Nallah, Plaal and Dwalta have also pitched in.

The sarpanch of Ghati, J.P. Singh, said: "this is a battle of survival for us, as we want to send a clear message to the militants."

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