EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Dec 19: This winter, ration shortage is most likely going to be the main roblem for militants active in the treacherous hills of Doda, Udhampur, Ramban, Reasi and the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. Reason: In the past one month or so, police and army troops, engaged in anti-insurgency operations, have busted nearly two dozen winter hideouts of militants and recovered from there a huge quantity of ration and other atables, besides utensils, gas stoves, LPG cylinders, plates, kerosene oil, blankets, etc.
"Militants, active in different parts of the region, had stacked up over 1,000 kg ration, including flour, and other items of daily use in their hideouts for the winters. As these stand seized now, they may have to face starvation," says a senior police officer.
He said apart from eatables, dozens of cigarette packets, khaini,medicines, over 100 kg of pulses and spices, good quality polythenesheets, different varieties of pickles, several packets of tea and dry milk, dry fruit, pressure cookers, turmeric powder, over 100 kg of iodised salt, two sleeping bags and some inner warmers had beenrecovered from the smashed winter hideouts of militants.
In some hideouts, militants had made kitchens for them and maintained them properly, the added.He said four digging tools, one axe and a carrom board were also
recovered from one of the hideouts.
The officer said busting of winter hideouts was going to pose them serious problems for their survival in the days to come as the peaks were already covered with snow and at this time, it was not possible for them to make new hideouts and then store daily use items.
Under such circumstances, they would either move to civilian areas so that they do not die of hunger, or try to contact their men in the villages for supply of ration.
"We apprehend that some villagers, who were suspected to be working for them, can attempt to stock up these items in some hideouts situated in far-flung areas,"the officer said and added, "Police and army were keeping a tight vigil in the villages that lie in the close vicinity of the smashed militant hideouts."
He said already over a dozen sympathisers of different militant outfits had been arrested by security forces from the militancy-infested parts of Jammu region, including Mahore from where three HM supporters were arrested Friday last.
A big success was achieved by Reasi police sometime back when they had busted a militants' transit camp-cum-kitchen at Thandapani, bordering Rajouri.
|
