The recent surrender of some militants active here has brought to the fore the growing chasm between Harkat-Ul-Mujahideen (HUM) and Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI) -- a one time conglomeration of HUA. The root of the problem lies in the ideological differences between the two factions -- one predominantly local-based and the other comprising foreign mercenaries, according to Army sources.

In their statements given to the security agencies, the militants belonging to HUJI faction stated that the internecine intra-group feud had made them give up their arms. ``We have been taking advantage of this rift. Either one faction leads us to others' ammunition dump or some of them give up,'' an Army officer posted here said.

Following the US decisionto outlaw HUA about a year back, the organisation was split into two parts changing the composition pattern of the outfit. ``Before the ban was imposed, HUA was a conglomeration of local and foreign mercenaries, a lethal combination. The locals used to provide hard intelligence and the mercenaries used to act on it,'' said an Intelligence officer.

Army officials admitted that as one single entity, the HUA used to effect good number of casualties in the security forces' camps but with cracks appearing of late, the militants were finding it hard to strike in a big way. ``The attacks are now less coordinated. And since the two don't see eye-to-eye, we, on numerous occasions, are forewarned about an imminent attack,'' an officer disclosed.

Commander, Core Intelligence Group (CIG), 16 Corps, Col Iqbal Singh confirmed that differences had emerged between the two factions. ``There have been reports that the two groups have been killing and harassing each others' family members,'' he claimed.

Officials said thedifferences have resulted in realignment of militant forces here, the biggest district in the Jammu province. They point out that HUJI has found a new partner in Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) which, before the bifurcation, was an adversary of HUA. ``Couple of years back, there have been skirmishes between HM and HUA, but now HUJI feels that by aligning with the HM they can take an advantage,'' an officer in the Military Intelligence said.

There alignment is being attributed to the fact that the HM is also a strong local-based group and has been suspecting the Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) role in propping up mercenary-based groups.

On the other hand, HUM which has a strong mercenary cadre is aligning itself with the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit to strike a supremacy in the district. ``LeT is controlled by the mercenaries, a common factor between them and HUM,'' point out sources.

Sources said the realigned forces were trying to gain `jurisdictional' edge over each other in the district. The LeT and HUMstronghold is considered to be Chattru, Gandoh and upper reaches of Bhaderwah areas, while the HM and HUJI controls the better part of Kishtwar, Doda town, Bhaderwah town Ramban and Banihal.

Counter-insurgency officials said that since the district was an important corridor for the militants, the two factions, by controlling major portions of the district, were trying to gain a strategic advantage. ``The militants who managed to sneak in via the Poonch-Rajouri belt either base themselves in Doda or move towards Kashmir Valley via this district. In both the cases, the district is important for them,'' an Intelligence official said.