20 % militants in JK without guns: Police

March 8: Ruling out any militant threat to Vaishno Devi shrine, police Monday said different winter strategy to counter militancy and cross-border infiltration was successful and today 20 percent militants in Jammu and Kashmir are without guns.Addressing media persons here, IGP Jammu, Ashok Gupta said, "At least 20 percent militants are without guns, so imagine a journalist without a pen. So our strategy will be to see that they (militants) don't get these things from across the border, from normal channels... money, persons or weapons. That is our strategy we are working at," he said.He claimed that around 180 militants were active in the Jammu province. “However, they militants were running out of weapons due to the loss of their cadre in the last two months”. “We targeted OGW’s be it ladies or others. We have booked many of them to send our message loud and clear,” he said adding they are hopeful that more militants will be killed this year.Talking about the winter strategy to counter militancy, Gupta said, “We planned for winter strategy which has given us very rich dividends. Our strategy was, number one; to target track and target scout, seek and kill the commanders.""Large numbers of militants have been killed this year as compared to last year. So far, 17 militants including 10 top commanders have been killed. It is a great achievement, I must say," he said.IGP Jammu ruled out any recent specific inputs of threat to Vaishno Devi cave shrine from militants. “Threats have always remained for the holy shrine. However, we do not have any recent specific input," he said.Replying to questions over the threat to the shrine in view of the statement made by government in Parliament recently, the IGP said, "Let me make a request. It is a sensitive issue, which was perhaps blown out of proportion.""But that does not mean having said so we will or we are planning to lower guards. Absolutely not," he said in reply to a question.He further said that a series of meetings have taken place to further strengthen the security of the shrine.