Sunday, June 26 2005 11:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Army today (Jun 26, 2005) said no militant training camps existed in the higher reaches of Rajouri and Poonch districts in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There are no such camps in these areas," Army Commander of Northern Command Lt Gen Hari Prasad said when asked about Union Minister of State for Home Sri Prakash Jaiswal's remarks on existence of militant training camps in higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Terrorists keep on moving from one place to another but as far as the presence of security forces is concerned, our area is totally covered," he told reporters at Nagrota, 12 kms from Jammu.

Prasad refused to comment about the sources on the basis of which the Minister had given the statement.

"There were some hideouts in Hill Kaka and other areas of Poonch but these have already been destroyed, the General said adding a large number of hideouts have been busted in these twin border districts during last three to four months.

About the blast in Nishat area of Srinagar yesterday in which nine army men were killed, the army commander said, "It is an act of desperation on the part of terrorists."

He said with growth of tourism in the valley, security forces have reduced operations to avoid creating hurdles in the movement of tourists.

"Terrorists are taking advantages of our goodness and indulging in such activities," he said.