Author: Josy Joseph in Srinagar
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: March 27, 2001
A fresh crisis stares in the face
of already perplexed security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, as hundreds
of civilian contractors working for them have been threatened by the Lashkar-e-Tayiba
against serving the Indian agencies.
Almost all civilian contract works
for the Army have come to a standstill in the past few days as a result,
Army officials say.
In a strong warning, Lashkar militants
recently gunned down a clerical-level employee of one of the local contractors
who had been supplying items to the Army Supply Corps.
Frightened contractors have for
the time being suspended all their works for the Army. They have issued
open appeals to the militants to allow them to work. But there has been
no response.
"This is after a long time such
a crisis is coming up. As of now, we don't have any visible problem. But
in the long run it could have a severe fallout," admits an Army officer.
The Army depends on civilian contractors
for the supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, meat and other items, besides
new constructions and maintenance and upkeep of their installations.
The contractors mainly work for
the Army Supply Corps and Military Engineering Service. To ASC they supply
grocery, fresh vegetables etc and for MES they carry out constructions
and maintenance of buildings and roads.
The contractors are meeting in Srinagar
on Wednesday to decide the future course of action. "We will look at all
possibilities, and explore all avenues. Millions of rupees of contracts
are pending. We cannot just leave it all there," argues an army contractor,
refusing to be named.
He also points out that there are
numerous locals who are employed with them in these works. "In fact, we
provide steady jobs to a few thousand youths in this Valley where unemployment
is so high," he says.
Contractors are also planning to
call on Syed Ali Shah Geelani, senior All Parties Hurriyat Conference leader
who is known for his hardline stand, in the next few days to seek his assistance.
According to contractors and army
officers, all middle-level and small-time contractors have completely stopped
their work. While, some big players continue to supply some essential items.
"How long they will carry on this is anybody's guess," says a senior Army
official.
Contractors say that besides the
denial of daily wages to hundreds of people employed with them, the threat
has also put them in a fix over their pending payments. "There are some
who have an outstanding payment from Army running into millions," says
a senior contractor in Srinagar.
According to estimates, there would
be over a few hundred contractors working for security agencies in the
Valley.
And all of them together would be
employing a few thousand people. "We provide jobs to a substantial number
of people," a contractor says.
The contractors recently issued
a public appeal to the militants pointing out that they are not directly
assisting the forces. ASC and MES are agencies that are not directly involved
in armed operations.
"We would be meeting Geelani saab.
We hope he will find some solution to our problem," say contractors.
For now, the Army is surviving on
regular supply coming in through some major contractors. And, civilian
staff of the MES is carrying the necessary maintenance work.
