Author: Excelsior Special Correspondent
Publication: The Daily Excelsior
Date: June 9, 2004
URL: http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/web1/04june09/news.htm#5
Fed up with the violence and atrocities
being committed by the so-called Mujahideens, local population of the twin
border districts of Poonch and Rajouri has been coming forward in a big
way to provide vital information to the security forces regarding presence
of terrorists.
"We want to get rid of violence
and destruction so locals have decided to provide full support to the security
force", said Javed Ahmed of Mendhar who asserted that militancy will be
completely eradicated from this area as local population has made up mind
to restore peace at any cost.
As local support has been dwindling
terrorists finding it difficult to protect their lives. "For the last one
week security forces have eliminated as much as 18 terrorists in Jammu
region", asserted Brigadier N S Malik, Commander of RR sector while briefing
media persons at Mendhar.
Defence authorities admitted that
terrorists' fear still prevailed in some areas but after killings of so-called
commanders people have been bravely coming forward in sharing information
with the Army.
Pointing towards killing of HMPPR
area commander Visharat Askari and HM district commander Zahid Gul, Brig
Malik exuded confidence that it will further help in removing terror of
the terrorists.
"These two complementary and successful
actions have dealt a severe blow to the terrorists in Poonch district",
he said.
Defence authorities while pointing
towards information provided by the locals said that it was all due to
reports of locals that Army and Police acted promptly and trapped two groups
of foreign terrorists operating in the area of Lasana and Pathana Tir in
Poonch district. "These terrorists were reported to have hostile designs
against the civil population of the area and were indulging in extortion",
defense authorities said and added that braving terrorists' threats people
came forward to share information.
It is worthwhile to mention here
that Army and Police addressed both the areas in well coordinated actions
lasting over a period of 48 hours. In these search operations conducted
over difficult terrain, the Army succeeded in eliminating terrorists from
two Tanzeems viz one group of three terrorists in the Lasana area belonging
to the HMPPR Tanzeem and the second group of three terrorists in the Pathana
Tir area belonging to the HM Tanzeem. The killed terrorists included on
district commander and one area commander.
A total of six AK rifles, 16 AK
magazines, 250 rounds of AK ammunition, six hand grenades, four radio sets
besides a large quantity of documents and logistic stores were recovered
from the killed terrorists.
Giving reasons for dwindling local
support, defence authorities said that terrorists have been committing
heinous crimes like rapes and extortion on gun point. "They (terrorists)
have crossed all limits so people were coming forward to get rid from their
atrocities", authorities said.
Brig Malik also admitted that local
population has been providing all support to the Army in operations.
