Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=08/09/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=INDIA/KASHMIR (L-O) CQ

NUMBER=2-279130

BYLINE=ANJANA PASRICHA

DATELINE=NEW DELHI

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Indian authorities have announced measures intended to improve security and combat violence in Kashmir. Anjana Pasricha reports from V-O-A's South Asia Bureau, the emergency powers follow recent attacks on civilian targets by suspected Muslim militants in the Hindu-dominated southern regions of Kashmir.

TEXT: India's Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani told Parliament emergency powers being granted to security forces in the southern Jammu region will make it possible to crackdown on separatist guerrillas.

/// ADVANI ACT ///

The government is determined to thwart the nefarious designs of the terrorists, and their mentors across the border, and not to let the counter insurgency grid be thinned out.

/// END ACT ///

The tough law being imposed in the Hindu-dominated Jammu region has already been in effect in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley for more than a decade. Under the law security forces can arrest suspects without a warrant, carry out search operations at will, and issue "shoot-to-kill" orders without prior authorization.

The law has been severely criticized by human-rights groups who say the unfettered powers with the police and army in the Kashmir valley led to rampant human-rights violations and increased custodial killings.

Prominent Kashmiri separatist leader Abdul Ghani Bhat says the granting of special powers did not improve the situation in Kashmir valley - and is unlikely to do so in Jammu. He expressed fears that it may lead to harassment of Muslims in Jammu.

The Bharatiya Janata Party led coalition government has been under pressure for a tough response after Muslim guerrillas killed 13-people Tuesday at a heavily guarded railway station in Jammu.

Since then Jammu city has been under curfew, with Hindu nationalist groups threatening to hold protest marches against the government's failure to prevent militant attacks.

Mr. Advani also announced several measures to improve security in Jammu region. He said village defense committees will be strengthened and security forces will be redeployed to protect "soft targets" such as civilians.

He also blamed Pakistan for recent militant violence in Kashmir that followed a summit between the leaders of the two countries.

/// ADVANI ACT ///

It must be appreciated what we are fighting is a proxy war of multiple dimensions, unleashed by an inimical neighboring country which has had no qualms in rationalizing the killing of innocent men, women, and children as a freedom struggle.

/// END ACT ///

India accuses Pakistan of sponsoring militant attacks in Kashmir, but Pakistan says it provides only moral and diplomatic support. (SIGNED)

NEB/AP/RAE