Shina rules out Governor's rule for Kashmir

Reasi, May 4 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (retd) S K Sinha has ruled out imposition of 'governor's rule' in the state in the aftermath of Doda and Basant Garh killings by militants and said the state government was strong enough to deal with the situation.

General Sinha said in a statement issued here that he is in constant touch with Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and security forces on the situation in the state. He said the ''bullet for bullet'' was the fittest option to tackle the menace of militancy in the state and reiterated the resolve of his government to fight militancy with an iron hand.

On the Hurriyat-Prime Minister meeting, the Governor said the Centre was addressing the whole gamut of issues, be it of external or internal dimensions. He said the Prime Minister has already made it clear that there will be no compromise on the territorial integrity of the nation.

He appealed to the people to preserve their time-tested unity and thwart the attempts to divide them on communal lines. The need of the hour is to strengthen national integration that will be a befitting reply to those hell-bent on derailing the peace process, he said.

Gen Sinha along with Minister for Transport, Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister of State for Works, Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak also visited Kulhand in Doda district and Basant Garh in Udhampur district yesterday and met the grieving families.

He assured the villagers of adequate security and announced that the number of Village Defence committees, will be increased, their emoluments will be hiked and they will be provided with weapons and the training to use them.

Besides, the locals will be recruited in thousands into para- military forces and the police with a relaxation in minimum educational qualifications, for serving in their home areas, he said.

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