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Kashmir : Troops vacate tourist resort |
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CRPF personnel vacated a lake-side club in Srinagar on Nov. 28 in a move to build bridges with residents. The move to vacate Nagin Club, the first tourist hub to be cleared of security forces came ahead of a Nov. 30 deadline set by the Defence Minis¬try. The lake-side club was once a favourite home of foreigners and movie stars.
The deadline for moving out of government buildings is not binding on the paramilitary CRPF but the central force still went ahead, keeping in mind the sentiments of residents and political groups.
“Our men from 137 battalion vacated the club today,” CRPF spokesperson Prabhakar Tripathy said.
“The club was a favourite destination of foreign visitors before Partition. Even after 1947, it continued to be a prime facility,” said Mohammad Azim Tuman, the president of a house owners’ association.
Security forces have been occupying Kashmir’s tourist re¬sorts, guest houses and hotels since militancy erupted in the Valley. Several of these facilities were burnt down by the mili¬tants, apparently to deny accommodation to the forces.
Nagin Club, which overlooks the Nagin Lake, also came under attack and its original wooden structure was set on fire in the early nineties. Security forces later moved into other parts of the club which were under construction when militancy started.
An official in the tourism department said the club would be renovated before being thrown open to visitors.
Militant violence declines
Reports from Jammu say that militancy related incidents in the Kashmir valley registered a substantial decline because of increased vigil and presence of security forces. According to security agencies, the number of incidents has come down by 70 per cent in 2007 compared to 1990. With violence coming down, political activity by mainstream political parties has gone up. More than 2000 rallies have been organised by various parties this year so far in the valley.
Three militants killed
Three militants were gunned down in encounters in Jammu and Kashmir last week, one in Doda district and two in Baramula district.
One jawan was killed in hostile fire near the line of con¬trol in Poonch district on Nov. 25.
SC declines to entertain review petition
The Supreme Court has declined to entertain a review peti¬tion filed by the Jammu and Kashmir government against its order transferring 35 Pakistani nationals, including some terrorists to the state from various jails in other parts of the country for speedy trial. The state government had contended that keeping them in the state’s jails was a great risk as there had been attempts earlier at jail break by Pakistani prisoners.
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