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New Delhi, Mar 26 (UNI) At least five terrorist organisations in Jammu and Kashmir were using landmines to target security forces which often result in civilian casulties, security experts said today.

The use of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) offered a much cheaper way to gain media publicity for the rebel outfits, called non state armed actors (NSAA) in security parlance.

''While a landmine is available for as less as Rs 45 a piece, an assault rifle can cost Rs 1.50 lakh,'' said Binalakshmi Nepram of Control Arms Foundation of India.

''NSAA's use landmines and IEDs as they lack resources to use other weapons against security forces...some of the landmines are self-produced using material available openly,'' said Dr Tasneem Meenai of Jamia Milia Islamia University.

Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), Harkat-ul-Jehad Islami (HuJI) and Harkat-ul-Ansar (HuA) had been using landmines and IEDs against security forces, she said .

Most of the landmines recovered by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir had markings of Pakistan Ordnance Factory (POF), claimed Brig B S Sachar of the Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA). ''The terrorits who use landmines and similar explosives are trained in Pakistan...the use of such weapons gives them instant media publicity, especially ahead of Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations,'' he added.

The experts were participating in a conference on 'Indispensibility of anti-personnel mines for India's defence: Myth or reality' here.

According to the Landmine Monitor Report, 2007, NSAGs continued to use command-activated IEDs in Jammu and Kashmir in 2006-07 to target convoys of army and para military forces. ''But the use of landmines and IEDs caused civilian casulties,'' the report claimed adding that India had a stockpile of five million landmines.

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