HP seeks more security on border along Jamp;K

SHIMLA, July 17: The Himachal Pradesh government has approached the Centre seeking beefing-up of security on its borders along the militancy prone areas of Jammu and Kashmir, besides special Central assistance to tide over resource problems in the State.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, drew Prime Minister8217;s attention towards infiltration problem and demanded that security be tightened on Himachal borders to curb entry of militants in Himachal. He informed the PM about killing of four Himachalis by suspected militants in Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister has assured suitable measures to maintain peace in the Himachal Pradesh.

Later, Dhumal met Union Finance Minister Jaswant Singh and urged him to convert Rs 100 crore given to the state as ways and means advance into a grant or long term loan. The Chief Minister discussed state8217;s over all financial position with the Minister and conveyed that unless Centre came to the aid of the state and sanctioned a special Central assistance, the problems in the state were unlikely to be resolved.