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| Soldiers fighting longest "peacetime" battle in J&K | | | BHARAT BHUSHAN
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 4: It could be peacetime for people sleeping without any fear of militants at homes, but for jawans it is the longest battle they are fighting in J&K for the past over two decades now.
Army has been fighting militants on borders, and in the hinterlands of the state, and in the process has sacrificed many of its officers and jawans. Police, CRPF and BSF too have lost many of their officers in counter-insurgency (CI) operations, grenade attacks and ambushes.
War is on for a jawan in J&K since 1989 when the ugly head of terrorism raised its head in Kashmir. While people do their routine business and children go to schools in a fear-free atmosphere here, jawans spend sleepless nights to defend borders to make it happen.
Defence minister AK Antony had few months back said in New Delhi that a total of 234 army personnel had died fighting terrorists in the last four years in J&K and the north-east.
"They have not sacrificed their lives for some vested interests, but they have done so to protect from militants people like us who live in remote areas of the state," said Gulam Mohammad, a resident of a far-flung village in Mendhar, Poonch.
He felt that without troops, para-military forces and police, no one could stay secure at home. On July 13 last, Maj Amit Thenge was killed in an ambush by militants in Beri Rakh woods of Mendhar. The militants were later tracked down and killed by troops.
He said had the troops not killed these militants, they could have entered their houses and harassed, or killed them.
Inayatullah of Pindi, Poonch, said while they welcomed army as it had constructed roads and dispensaries for them, they were opposed to militants who had brought them destruction, killings and fear. "How can we support them? They are here to spoil our generations and hinder our progress," he asserted.
One thing is quite evident: without security forces on borders and police in the hinterland, it could have been difficult for people to stay secure at homes, a senior police officer said.
Hardly a day passes when the Pak-based militants do not make bids to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir from across the Line of Control (LoC), or the International Border (IB). Most of their attempts are, however, foiled by the alert border troops and police.
The jawans are working here under the most stressful circumstances as they hardly get time to take rest during anti-insurgency operations, which continue sometimes for a week, or so. During this time, they may not be getting time to take normal food, or go to loo.
This correspondent was witness to an army cordon and search operation at Ghati in Kathua in 2004 when jawans had continued their "seek and destroy" operation with swollen eyes as they had not taken sleep for at least a week.
An army officer told The Early Times that jawans were guarding the borders round-the-clock to foil any infiltration bid by the Pak-based militants.
SSP JL Sharma, who heads the border Samba district, said cops too were on all time alert on the second line of defence along the IB. He said special night nakas were being laid by cops in the border areas of Samba to minimise the chances of infiltration by militants. SSP, Kathua, Gareeb Dass has, however, innovated the idea of joint patrolling by his police and the Punjab police. Police on both sides were coordinating with each other after the killing of two infiltrators who had taken shelter in border areas of Kathua and the neighbouring Bomial in Punjab.
The army officer said at a time when security forces needed to be appreciated for trying to keep national integrity intact, systematic efforts were being made in the valley to demoralise them.
Demoralisation of forces was only going to strengthen anti-national elements having roots in Pakistan, he asserted. He said when forces could be assailed for the alleged wrongs committed by them, they ought to be appreciated for their good work.
Appreciation for good work would provide them energy and raise their morale, the officer added. |
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