05-31-2006, 09:49 PM
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Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
A month after the militants massacred 32 Hindus in two separate incidents at Kulhand in Doda and Basantgarh in Udhampur, residents living in remote hamlets adjoining Kulhand and other sensitive villages in the area continue to live under the constant fear of becoming an easy fodder for the jehadi elements, mastermind behind the carnage.
Though the state government claims to have strengthened security in the area besides setting up at least 85 village defence committees comprising 605 members, large number of terrorised villagers from Doda district continue to brave heat wave conditions and holding protest demonstrations in Jammu demanding foolproof security and weapons to counter the militant threat in the area.
School children are yet to fully return to their classrooms, a classic example of lurking terror in the minds of the local populace.
Growing presence of foreign mercenaries and regrouping of local militants has further compounded miseries of local residents and security forces, as specter of fresh strikes targeting members of the minority community looms large. Security forces are apprehensive that militants carried out massacre to scare away minority population from the area in order to establish their hideouts and bases for launching more operations in the coming months.
DIG Doda Lalit Mohanty told Pioneer "we are facing a peculiar situation. Every villager wants to join village defence committee to ensure safety of his or her loved ones. We have strengthened security grid in the entire hilly district by covering broad contours and hill features so as to block the exit routes for militants with the help of VDCs". Sources said at least 350 applications of local youth were still pending with the police authorities for enrolment as VDC member.
When asked about the presence of foreign mercenaries in the area, Mohanty said "I do agree, movement of some foreign mercenaries in the area has been spotted" but admitted that "it was difficult to quantity their numbers".
He said security forces are on the job to bust their hideouts before they execute their plans.
Meanwhile in Jammu, over 150 Doda residents continue to hold protest demonstrations in front of the office of the Divisional Commissioner to highlight their plight. "We will not return home without weapons nor migrate from our villages. We are ready to face militants and even sacrifice our lives", 24-year-old Ranbir Singh said in Jammu. Ranbir, resident of Bagwa in Ghat block in Doda tehsil is participating in dharna for the past 12 days demanding setting up of village defence committee in their area and weapon from the state government.
Gandharav Singh, another youth from village Marmat in Doda, is camping in Jammu and echoes same sentiments. "I will not return home until I am armed. I cannot compromise with security of my family members", Gandharav said, explaining that his application was turned down by local authorities in Doda forcing him to agitate in Jammu to get weapon sanctioned in his name. "I am prepared to sacrifice my life", he added. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
A month after the militants massacred 32 Hindus in two separate incidents at Kulhand in Doda and Basantgarh in Udhampur, residents living in remote hamlets adjoining Kulhand and other sensitive villages in the area continue to live under the constant fear of becoming an easy fodder for the jehadi elements, mastermind behind the carnage.
Though the state government claims to have strengthened security in the area besides setting up at least 85 village defence committees comprising 605 members, large number of terrorised villagers from Doda district continue to brave heat wave conditions and holding protest demonstrations in Jammu demanding foolproof security and weapons to counter the militant threat in the area.
School children are yet to fully return to their classrooms, a classic example of lurking terror in the minds of the local populace.
Growing presence of foreign mercenaries and regrouping of local militants has further compounded miseries of local residents and security forces, as specter of fresh strikes targeting members of the minority community looms large. Security forces are apprehensive that militants carried out massacre to scare away minority population from the area in order to establish their hideouts and bases for launching more operations in the coming months.
DIG Doda Lalit Mohanty told Pioneer "we are facing a peculiar situation. Every villager wants to join village defence committee to ensure safety of his or her loved ones. We have strengthened security grid in the entire hilly district by covering broad contours and hill features so as to block the exit routes for militants with the help of VDCs". Sources said at least 350 applications of local youth were still pending with the police authorities for enrolment as VDC member.
When asked about the presence of foreign mercenaries in the area, Mohanty said "I do agree, movement of some foreign mercenaries in the area has been spotted" but admitted that "it was difficult to quantity their numbers".
He said security forces are on the job to bust their hideouts before they execute their plans.
Meanwhile in Jammu, over 150 Doda residents continue to hold protest demonstrations in front of the office of the Divisional Commissioner to highlight their plight. "We will not return home without weapons nor migrate from our villages. We are ready to face militants and even sacrifice our lives", 24-year-old Ranbir Singh said in Jammu. Ranbir, resident of Bagwa in Ghat block in Doda tehsil is participating in dharna for the past 12 days demanding setting up of village defence committee in their area and weapon from the state government.
Gandharav Singh, another youth from village Marmat in Doda, is camping in Jammu and echoes same sentiments. "I will not return home until I am armed. I cannot compromise with security of my family members", Gandharav said, explaining that his application was turned down by local authorities in Doda forcing him to agitate in Jammu to get weapon sanctioned in his name. "I am prepared to sacrifice my life", he added. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->