The Hindu : National : De-mining operation over

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 16, 2004

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National

De-mining operation over

By Our Staff Reporter

JAMMU, JUNE 15. De-mining operation along the Indo-Pak. International Border (IB) by the Army is over. Soldiers have been involved in the operation for the past 21 months.

The mining operation began after "Operation Parakaram" after the attack on Parliament on December 13, 2001 to end cross-border terrorism. As part of the operation, the strike corps of the Army was moved to the border. The operation displaced, according to official figures, over 1.75 lakh people near the border. Farmers had to migrate due to the tension on the border and because their agricultural fields, main source of their livelihood, became mine fields.

"Operation Parakaram" was called off in October 2002 and the Central Government decided to de-mine the areas near the IB. But this was easier said than done. De-mining is a long- drawn-out process that takes three times the normal time required to plant mines. On top, soldiers had to face the firing from across the border.

The ceasefire agreement on November 26, 2003 changed the scene and the de-mining process hastened.

Talking to The Hindu here today, a senior Army officer of the 16 Corps said: ``We have completed 98 per cent of the de-mining operations and handed back the lands free of mines to farmers.''

Compared to the past, de-mining this time has been carried out quickly. In the past, de-mining operations dragged on for years.

Historically, the border areas are known as rice bowl and besides meeting the needs of the State, rice from here was once sent to the rest of the country. The famous high quality Basmati grown here is much in demand and ironically, this belt in the last two years had to buy rice from other States.

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