Jammu and Kashmir
While the overall security scenario in Jammu and Kashmir showed improvement in the first few months of 1999, the militant activities in the State, particularly in border districts, temporarily showed an upward trend for some months in the post-Kargil period. The dissolution of the 12 Lok Sabha, announcement of fresh General Elections ‘and the reverses suffered in Kargil by Pakistan contributed to the increase in the militancy related idents.
As a result of stepped up security notable success has been achieved by the security forces who have killed 1082 militants during the year 1999 as against 999 militants killed during 1998. The civilian killings during 1999 (821) declined as compared to the previous year (867) though the incidents during 1999 (3072) was marginally higher than the number of incidents in 1998 (2932). However, the number of security forces personnel killed in 1999(356), as compared to 1998 (232), went up on account of targeted attacks on them and their camps by heavily armed, highly trained and indoctrinated terrorists. The situation in the State has been kept under constant review by the Central and the State Government. The security situation in the State was reviewed in high level meetings taken by the Home Minister on November 17, 1999 and by the Prime Minister on January. 17, 2000.
The elections to the 13th Lok Sabha, 1999, were held in the State of Jammu and Kashmir along with the rest of the country .:. The militant/terrorist outfits, including the All Party. Hurriyat Conference, had given a call to boycott the poll and had also threatened the public, including Government employees, of dire consequences if they participated in the poll process. The overall polling percentage was around 37.6.
The Central Government is continuing with its four-pronged strategy to counter-terrorist and separatist violence in Jammu & Kashmir by deepening of the democratic process, accelerating economic development, isolating foreign mercenaries and terrorists and playing a pro-active role to neutralize them. As one of the major prongs of a multi-pronged strategy to tackle militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the Government has formulated an Action Plan regarding the activities of security forces and intelligence agencies and related matters. The core elements and priorities of the strategy are :-
· curbing infiltration
· entering militancy in the hinterland
(vii)greater functional integration through an institutional ·framework of operational and intelligence groups at each of the two Unified Head Quarters in Jammu and Srinagar and at field levels.
Over and above the Action Plan, a multi-disciplinary group of officers under the Chairmanship of Special Secretary (JKA) in the Department of Jammu and Kashmir Affairs with representation from Ministry of Defence, State. Government, Army, CPMFs and Intelligence agencies has been tasked recently to have a fresh look and suggest changes, if any, needed in the strategy keeping in view the existing scenario.
Two Indian Reserve . Battalions were sanctioned to Jammu and Kashmir in December 1998, the raising cost of which would be borne by the Government of India. Also 5145 Special Police Officer (SPOs) were sanctioned with effect from September 1, 1999, over and above the existing strength of 12855 SPOs, with a view to strengthening the 2486 Village Defence Committees (VDCs). Three SPOs form the nucleus in a VDC, the over VDC members being volunteers ... The expenditure incurred on such SPOs is to be reimbursed by the Government of India.
The Central Government has been reimbursing the security-related expenditure (SRE) to Jammu and Kashmir from 1990 ... A total of Rs.1318.31 crore (including Rs.152.16 crore for election related additional SRE) has been released to the Govenment of Jammu and Kashmir during the period 1990 to 1999 ...
Major Incidents
Ø Attack on the BSF campus at Bandipore on July 13, 1999 killing 4 persons.
Ø Killing of 15 persons including 5 VDC members in Lihota villages (Doda District) on July 19/20, 1999.
Ø Killing of BJP candidate for Anantnag Lok Sabha Constituency along with 2 others in a landmine blast on September 7, 1999 in Anantnag district.
Ø Rifle grenade attack on new Secretariat at Srinagar on September 29, 1999 killing 10 persons.
Ø Attack on PRO office of Badamibag cantonment (Srinagar) on November 3, 1999, killing 10 persons.
Militancy presently is being run by foreign mercenaries ... The foreign mercenaries have no dearth of resources in terms of logistic support, funds and modem weaponry.
... Certain areas of the State have been declared 'Disturbed' under the Armed Forces (J&K) Special Powers Act, 1990 ... The State Government has declared areas falling within 20 kms. of the Line of Control in the districts of Rajouri and Poonch and districts of Anantnag,
Baramulla, Badgam, Kupwara, Pulwama and Srinagar as disturbed areas.
Surrender and Rehabilitation of Militants From 1990 onwards, 3683 militants have surrendered till August 25, 1999 ... The Government of India had approved raising of two battalions for the Central Para Military Forces, which will mainly comprise of these surrendered militants, 921 surrenderees have been recruited in these battalions so far. These surrendered militants will also be covered under Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojna or State Self-Employment Scheme fer establishing permanent source of livelihood ...
A Standing Committee of Secretaries has been constituted under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to effectively coordinate and accelerate efficient implementation of the various development packages for J&K for which the Union of India is releasing funds through various Union Ministries ...
