Srinagar, Jan 13: Army is reportedly carrying out a ‘kind of census’ in many parts of Kashmir, with soldiers moving from door to door to collect details about households—a charge denied by Army.
 According to reports and witnesses, army men are seen in areas of north Kashmir’s
 Bandipora and Baramulla districts and also in central Kashmir’s Budgam district collecting information about the residents. The information includes names of people in a particular household, their professions, age and other details.
 The information sought, according to them, is similar to the one sought during Census.
 A group of residents from Budgam localities, where army men have conducted the exercise, said they were asked to fill the forms furnished by the soldiers. The forms, they said, are being handed over to the village heads who in turn are asking people to fill them as soon as possible.
 The residents, however, are surprised with Army’s exercise, calling it “strange.”. “The soldiers asked us to fill in all the details including our cell-phone numbers,” the residents said.
 The residents of Baramulla said it is for the first time they are asked to fill such forms. “We have never seen Army taking such details before,” they said.
 Insiders in Army said that some of its companies “might be upgrading their records.” “Now that people have started to come via Nepal, Army in their jurisdictions has to maintain records,” an Army official, wishing anonymity, said here.  
 The General Officer Commanding (GOC) Kilo Force, Major General Sarat Chand termed the reports as baseless.  “The allegations are false. I have not ordered any such exercise,” General Chand claimed.
 Pertinently, any census exercise done without a prior notification issued by the central government or by any other authorized agency is deemed as illegal.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST