RAJOURI, Oct 24: ``Shoot to kill'' orders have been issued to the Army troops deployed in the Rajouri and Poonch sectors of Jammu and Kashmir to check infiltration of armed militants from across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).``It is impossible to completely seal the 250 km LAC in these areas due to the presence of dense forests, nullahs and deep rivulets on this hilly terrain'', said Major General S S Chahal, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Rajouri and Poonch division. ``It is not a porous border where everybody is allowed to move freely, he asserted, adding ``anybody seen moving on the LAC is to be knocked down''.``The orders to the troops are to shoot to kill,'' Maj Gen Chahal emphasised, adding, ``We have to ensure the sanctity of the Line of Actual Control. The GOC informed that constant vigil was being maintained all along the Rajouri and Poonch sectors, areas most prone to infiltration.``The Pir Panjal range in both these sectors takes off from the LAC and goes on to Jamawali Gali, Himmarg Gali, Chor Gali, Pir Panjal Pass and so on. Besides, Mendhar river that emanated from the higher reaches of Bimber Gali also merges with the Poonch river which finally falls in Mangla reservoir across the LAC,'' he added.He revealed that the Pak Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was luring people who had ethnic relations on the other side of the LAC to cross over for money. ``However, insurgency cannot be sustained on the basis of money alone; there has to be a popular cause for it,'' he noted.He condemned use of heavy weaponry for unprovoked firing by Pak troops at a time of talks ensued between the two countries. Perhaps the Pak Army and the ISI, who were acting independently of Pakistan authorities, were not interested in peace between the two countries, he observed.About the activities of the Army in the depth areas, he said the troops had been directed to launch people-friendly operations so as to avoid inconvenience to the maximum extent possible. ``We have, on a number of occasions, let the militants to escape and did not open fire at them to avoid civilian casualties,'' he added. ``We have directed the troops not to penalise people coerced into providing shelter or food to militants at gun point,'' Maj Gen Chahal said. However, he noted, it had been expressed to the same people to inform the nearest security post about them (militants) at the first available opportunity.''Revealing that the militants were on the run in both the Rajouri and Poonch sectors and were avoiding direct conflict with the troops, he impressed the fact that since it was not practically possible to set up security posts at every village, public help will be required to stave off militant attacks.Referring to the ongoing talks with Pakistan, the GOC said, ``We must make attempts for peace, but also prepare simultaneously to meet the situation.Grenade blast kills 3 passengers in SrinagarAt least three passengers were killed and 17 others sustained injuries when a powerful grenade thrown by an unidentified militant exploded in a bus near Srinagar today. An official spokesman said the blast occurred at Noorbagh locality of downtown Srinagar around 10.15 am when a bus on its way to Srinagar was hit by an unidentified militant with a grenade.The grenade exploded with a big bang killing two passengers, Abdul Qayoom Bhat and Ali Mohammad Sofi, on the spot besides damaging the vehicle and a parked auto-rickshaw, the spokesman said.He said 18 persons, mostly passengers, also sustained splinter injuries in the explosion which caused panic. People ran helter-skelter, while shopkeepers who had just opened their shops downed shutters and ran for safety. The injured were shifted to hospital where one of the seriously wounded person, Ghulam Hassan Beig succumbed to his injuries, the spokesman said.
