Shillong, Nov 11: Director General of Central Reserve Police Force S C Chaube today said recruitment of locals in different militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir had gone up in the last three months even as the ultras were "fine tuning" their communication systems. "According to intelligence reports, as many as 75 young boys whose whereabouts are not known, have been recruited by the militants in J&K in the last two-three months," Chaube told reporters.

He said the militants "aided and abeted by the ISI and Pakistan army" were also "fine tuning" their communication systems and procuring more and more devices which was a "challenge" to the security forces.

The DG, however, said during September this year 200 militants were killed by security forces. This was the 'highest number' of ultras killed in a single month in 2003.

In the same period, 341 people killed by the militants as against 126 in February and maximum 239 incidents were recorded in this month, he said Chaube said as part of the Centre's policy, CRPF would take over the internal security of Srinagar city in Kashmir from BSF and the process began from today itself with five battalions especially trained in counter-insurgency already moving there.

Another three would be joining them by the end of this month. "We hope by March 2004, altogether 16 battalions would replace as many of BSF to take full command of Srinagar," he said. Bureau Report