NEW DELHI, May 8: Indian reports on Sunday claiming that some 400 armed militants were massed across the Line of Control waiting for the snow to melt in the passes, have clouded recent official hints that Indian troop withdrawal from parts of the Valley was likely to happen soon, diplomatic observers said. Reports from Srinagar also said that the first week of May saw violence at its peak, claiming 52 lives, including top militant commanders and a senior army officer, and wounding several others across the strife-torn state.

A total of 33 alleged militants, 11 security personnel and eight civilians were killed in the week that saw a string of militant attacks in the Valley. A large cache of arms and ammunition was also claimed to have been seized. Ateequllah Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s nephew, became the first victim of the week when he was fired upon by militants at Bijbehara in Anantnagon on May 1. United News of India on Sunday quoted the Kashmir-based intelligence chief of the Border Security Force, K. Srinivasan as claiming that around 400 militants were waiting across the LoC to sneak in during this summer.

Mr Srinivasan’s claim tallied with continued Indian allegations of militant infrastructure remaining untouched in Azad Kashmir, from where they say the militants launch their operations inside the Valley.

India’s National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan had said in the runup to the recent visit here by President Pervez Musharraf that India could consider withdrawing some of the troops from Kashmir if the level of violence did not get out of control during the summer months.

The timing of the news of the 400 militants may have to do with lobbies within the Indian establishment that are opposed to Mr Narayanan’s suggestions of pondering a withdrawal. Indian analysts close to the government have been advocating fresh palpable measures in Kashmir, including internal ceasefire, release of political prisoners and an easing of the military hold on the daily life of its citizens.