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Binoo Joshi in Jammu
With terrorists increasingly targetting shepherds in Jammu and Kashmir, authorities plan to raise a special force to protect cattle grazers and increase security presence in the state's highlands.
The move comes in the wake of Saturday's massacre of 15 shepherds at Sarhoti Dhar in Doda district, about 250 km from Jammu.
"This force will be set up Monday. There is going to be no delay," said Director General of Police Ashok Kumar Suri.
The police chief said the force would be raised on the lines of the special police officers, who are recruited among the local youth.
They are armed with weapons and imparted military training to fight the militants.
There are already 7,000 SPOs in Doda district. These special officers work in tandem with security forces and also take on the militants independently.
More operations against the separatists are also planned to clear the high mountains of militants to instill confidence in the people, the police chief said.
"The prime objective is to protect the people, and for that an atmosphere of confidence is needed," he said.
There have been more than 50 instances of killings of shepherds in the last four years. This is in sharp contrast to the past when terrorists never harmed the cattle grazers in the hope that they will not tip off the security forces about them.
The peace kept the security forces away from the highlands, which provided much-needed shelter to militants and terrorists over more than 4,000 sq km of mountains with thick forests.
There are more than 80 highland pastures with more than 10 dhoks, or summer huts, each in Doda district spread over Kishtwar, Bhaderwah and Banihal areas.
Indo-Asian News Service
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