Truce chills guns, but Harkat threatens attacks

New Delhi, Nov 27: Hours after Prime Minister Vajpayee's ceasefire took formal effect in Jammu and Kashmir, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a ...

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New Delhi, Nov 27: Hours after Prime Minister Vajpayee’s ceasefire took formal effect in Jammu and Kashmir, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen (HuM), a militant outfit dominated by Afghan and Pakistani mercenaries, threatened to launch massive attacks on Army camps during the month irrespective of the ceasefire.

Secretary-General of HuM, Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil, said "we will launch massive attacks on the Indian Army during Ramzan particularly on its 17th day when the battle of Badr was fought."

Meanwhile, unfazed by the Harkat threat, official sources told PTI that security forces would carry out only retaliatory action against militants during the ceasefire period. Cordon and search operations against militants have been stopped and raids would remain suspended during the holy month.

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Asked about the course of action in case of militant attacks on a security patrol party, the sources said it would be retaliated but the security forces would not carry out cordon and search raids.

The sources, however, expressed fears that militants might indulge in attacks on soft targets besides launching "Fidayeen" (suicide) attacks on vital installations.

However, adequate precautions had been taken to ensure peaceful passage of the month, they said.

The sources also clarified that the ceasefire did not apply to the Line of Control and the "Anti-infiltration Grid" comprising the Army and Border Security Force Personnel would be operational.

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They said any infilitration bid by militants with support of Pakistani troops would be given a befitting reply.

About the possibility of attacks on security patrols in the valley and higher reaches of Jammu region, the sources said "adequate restraint would be exercised if the situation does not go out of hands." The sources said adequate measures had been taken to prevent any such incident during the month.

They said some intelligence inputs suggested that militants might try to escalate violence during the month and already some senseless killings had taken place last week.

BSF Director General E N Rammohan has also said militant outfits opposed to the Centre’s unilateral ceasefire in the state are expected to intensify killing of innocent civilians and suicide attacks on security forces in the coming days.

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About the continuation of the ceasefire beyond the holy month, the sources said no decision had been taken as yet and it would be decided only after assessing the reaction of militant and other separatist groups.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah has already said if the Ramzan ceasefire succeeded it could continue beyond the holy month.

The modalities of ceasefire were discussed by Abdullah with Union Home Minister L K Advani and Defence Minister George Fernandes during his three-day stay in the Capital.

The two Union ministers later briefed Prime Minister Vajpayee about the developments.