Locals playing major role in defeating militancy in J

Jammu, May 10 (UNI) Local population have started playing a major role in defeating militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, which has witnessed a 16 per cent decline in terrorist-related incident during 2006, as compared to corresponding previous year, a defence spokesman today said.

The militant outfits operating in Jammu and Kashmir , the spokesman said, were now facing strong opposition from local populace.

''Locals are coming forward to provide real time intelligence inputs on terrorist activities, which has led to the launching of successful operations by the security forces and elimination of top militant commanders'' defence spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami told UNI.

The current phase of the proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir has shown a marked improvement, as compared to previous years, he informed.

Owing to the counter measures adopted by the Army, the spokesman said, ''There has been a discernible drop in infiltration with the assessed successful infiltration up to December 2005 coming down to 335.'' The Army's strategy of 'iron fist in velvet glove', he said, has ''started paying dividends, since it is focused on conduct of surgical and professional operations based on real time intelligence, which causes minimum inconvenience to the local populace.'' On the other hand, Lt Col Goswami said, the ceasefire on the borders with Pakistan is continuing with ''a few minor aberrations''. The local-level flag meetings are being encouraged to resolve differences and defuse tension along the border, the spokesman informed.

During the year 2006, the number of militancy-related incidents was lower by 16 per cent as compared to year 2005 while the number of civilians killed dropped by 30 per cent and the security personnel martyred by 20 per cent.

However, there was 49 per cent increase in the grenade attacks in 2006. During the year 2006, 226 grenade attacks occurred, as compared to 152 in the year 2005.

Infiltration from across the border for the period January to March, 2007 was 39, as compared to 59 in the corresponding period of last year, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal informed the Rajya Sabha yesterday.

UNI