RS members ask Govt to take steps to block infiltration across LOC

RS members ask Govt to take steps to block infiltration across LOC
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI, MAY 10: Members in the Rajya Sabha today asked the Government to take effective steps to block infiltration of massed mercenary bands across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and at the same time, initiate measures to restore confidence of the people.

Drawing attention of the government to threats of another hot summer in the Valley held out by Pakistan-sponsored mercenary groups, members cutting across party lines asked the government to tackle foreign mercenaries who now formed eighty per cent of militants in state, with all resources at its command.

The members, while supporting the Government's new initiative to open a dialogue with Kashmiri groups, said no quarters should be given to mercenary groups.

Raising the issue, Ghulam Nabi Azad (Cong) accused the Vajpayee Government for the present strife in Jammu and Kashmir and said the situation had deteriorated despite BJP's talk of pro-active policy.

"The Government failed to become active. Instead, the militants got pro-active," he said and cited 11 incidents of daring attacks on CRPF and Army camps since last year.

Azad said nearly 50,000 civilians and security personnel had been killed in the Valley so far.

The Congress member said the intelligence network in J&K was almost non-existent and stressed the need for better transport facilities for the securitymen.

Azad also said there was need for modernisation of the police weaponry as security personnel fighting the militants were demoralised to find that the terrorists possessed more sophisticated arms than they had.