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There has been infiltration of foreign militants into Poonch district on an ``unprecedented" scale following the withdrawal of the unilateral cease fire by the Union government, said intelligence reports.
About 500 foreign militants are operating in the district, which is considered ``disturbing," as such a large concentration of them had never occurred before, the reports said.
There is apparently a ``contest" between the security forces, who have mounted large-scale operations to eliminate militants and the militants and their mentor, ISI, not only to replenish their number but also to swell them.
``The security forces are out to eliminate as many militants as they can before the maize crop gets tall (July-August) and makes operations difficult," the sources said.
The militants are apparently biding their time and waiting for the crop to grow tall, as it would provide them cover and make their operations easier.
In the district, the maximum number of foreign militants are present across the Suran river, near the Peer Panjal mountain range. Others are largely active in the hill range which separates Poonch from Mendhar valley. Most of the encounters are taking place in the Surankot area, where on any single day the Army is eliminating more militants than in any other area of the state.
In the adjoining Rajouri district, the concentration of militants is mainly in the Kotli-Kalaban and Peer Kalewa belts. It is in the Kotli-Kalaban area that militants gunned down 16 policemen when their vehicle was on Manjakot road. The ceasefire was in effect at that time.
The maximum infiltration into Poonch has occurred from Kirni and Shahpur belt of Poonch tehsil, the Sabjian belt of Mandi tehsil and the Songali and Balakot belt of Mendhar tehsil.
The militants are coming with large quantities of arms and ammunition. They are also bringing with them large amounts of Indian currency to distribute among sympathisers as well as militants. The militants are reported to have buried huge caches of arms and ammunition in the Surankot belt.
Probably more disturbing than the large-scale infiltration of foreign militants is the reported smuggling of money ``to mount an all-out effort to Islamise, even Talibanise, the Muslim society in Poonch and Rajouri districts".
The two districts have a Gujjar
majority and they take pride in their secular outlook and Indian roots.
The militants have lately stepped up targeting of Gujjarts in remote areas
who refuse to follow their diktats.
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