About 1100 militants, 50 per cent of them foreign mercenaries, are operating in Jammu division, a senior army official has said. The militants strength has increased from 600 to 1100 in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur and Kathua districts of Jammu division since 1997-98, The GOC of Jammu corps, Lt General A S Khanna told reporters at the 16 corps headquarters in Nagrota on Thursday. “Of these, 50 per cent are operating in Doda district alone, while the remaining in Rajouri, Poonch and Udhampur districts,” he said, adding that over 50 per cent of militants belong to pro-Pakistani Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit. He said that as many as 549 militants were killed in different operations in Jammu division this year. Of these, 164 ultras were killed in Poonch, followed by 157 in Rajouri, 94 in Udhampur, 75 in Doda, 41 in Jammu and 18 in Kathua districts since January this year. Last year as many as 458 militants were killed in the division. Similarly, troops killed 115 militants along Jammu border during 77 unsuccessful infiltration bids, while 62 militants were killed in 54 bids last year. Besides, 52 civilians were killed by militants this year. Of these, 43 civilians were killed by militants and nine civilians killed in blasts caused by improvised explosive device during the same period, he said.

Bureau Report