Won’t allow terrorists to create violence: Army chief

‘Response given to Pak can’t be disclosed in public’
Will foil all infiltration attempts

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Nov 12:
Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat today declared that the terrorists will not be allowed to trigger violence and that anyone who indulges in such acts will be neutralized even as he maintained that there was nothing new in recent sniping incidents of soldiers on the Line of Control (LoC) but added that policy towards Pakistan keeps changing.
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Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of ‘Samman Samaroh for disabled soldiers’ at Mamun Cantonment in Pathankot this morning, Gen Rawat said that Pakistan army was being given befitting reply to ceasefire violations on the LoC and asserted that everything (that the Army is doing on the LoC) can’t be put into public domain.
Responding to a question on suggestions by former Chief Minister and National Conference vice president Omar Abdullah and some Kashmiri politicians calling for dialogue instead of adopting muscular policy in Kashmir, the Army chief said the Interlocutors (Dineshwar Sharma) appointed by the Government of India is talking to the people and he is open to anybody who wants to speak to him.
“If they (the separatists) don’t want to talk, what can we do? The head of the State isn’t going to talk to the terrorists. It’s not going to happen,” he said.
Gen Rawat said the Government had a clear policy that it would not allow terrorist to create violence and it had already initiated dialogue through an Interlocutor with the people.
“The Government has tasked an interlocutor to speak to the people in Valley. Dineshwar Sharma is saying that he is open to everybody and those interested in talking to him can come up and speak to him,” he added.
“I don’t understand who is saying talks are not going on. Sharma is the Government’s interlocutor. If the people are not listening to him, what he can do,” he asked and said they were holding indirect talks to see if they could approach stakeholders.
“What makes us think that necessary action by the Government is not being taken to bring people into mainstream”, Rawat questioned.
The Chief of Army Staff had a word of advice for the Kashmiri youth.
“It’s (the militancy) not worth joining because you will not live long. We are giving you an opportunity to give up weapons and surrender. If they don’t behave and continue violence, then only element left is to neutralize them,” he said.
Gen Rawat said while the Government’s policy was that those triggering terrorism in Kashmir should be neutralized, the Army’s focus was to ensure that the Kashmiri youths do not join militancy.
The Army chief said infiltration was going on from across the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The Government has a clear cut policy that it will not allow terrorists to create violence. Anybody who creates violence will be neutralized,” he said.
“Our focus is terrorists in the valley. The basic aim of the Army is to ensure that young boys do not join militancy,” he said.
Rawat said the Army’s aim was that it approached the youth’s family and told them that they could ask the youth to surrender as it was still giving them a chance.
Asked whether India is following a tit-for-tat policy towards Pakistan, which was resulting in many casualties, the Army chief said the policy keeps on changing.
“See we have to keep changing the policy…We have to keep doing something different. It has to be reviewed so that we keep ahead of adversary,” he said, adding that it had to be more than a tit-for-tat policy.
He said what the Indian Army was doing along the LoC was not being put into public domain and they were doing more than Pakistan.
“We do not want to blow our trumpet unnecessarily. Whenever they do something, it is given a befitting reply. Whenever they are doing something, it is a reaction. They don’t take initiative. They know we are strong and we can take strong action,” he said.
The Army chief said Pakistan kept sending terrorists to cause damage and ultimately it led to violence against the people.
“Kashmiris are our people. We have to look after them,” he said, adding Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions are part of the country and violence would not be allowed there.
On sniping, Gen Rawat said it was a regular affair and there was nothing new in it.
“Pakistan has got snipers and India also has snipers. It is subject to exposure of any soldier. Our drills should be good and we have to ensure that we do not give them any opportunity to snipe at us,” he said.
He said infiltration attempts were being made from across the border but the Army was out to foil them.
Rawat sought to counsel Kashmiri youths having the propensity to veer off to radical paths to see through the designs of terror outfits, which use them up as “cannon feeders” even before training them to fight.
Terming those hindering the security forces’ anti-terror operations as “supporters of terrorists”, and warning them of “stern actions”, the Chief of Army Staff said the security forces are also acting against those involved in terror funding and aiding and abetting terrorism.
Talking of situation on borders, Gen Rawat said the infiltration was under control and the cease fire violations by Pakistan army are being replied to befittingly.
Terming the situation along the border and hinterland as “totally under control”, the Army chief, however, noted that attempts are being made to revive terrorism in Jammu region.
Holding “misinformation and disinformation” campaigns responsible for the radicalisation of the youths in the Valley, the COAS called upon them to understand the terror outfits’ designs.
“The radicalisation is happening more because of the misinformation and disinformation campaigns. Youths are being fed up with wrong and incorrect information,” Gen Rawat said.
“The youths are being recruited by militant outfits through disinformation. And then, they don’t even have any training and get eliminated in a few days,” he added.
Counselling the misguided youths to see through the designs of the militant outfits, the Army chief said, “If they (radicalised youth and militants) understand properly that they are being used as a cannon fodder, they will better shun violence and join mainstream.”
“And then there will be peace in valley. There will be jobs. Everything that we are looking for, will come that way,” Gen Rawat added.
Urging media to discard misinformation campaigns, he said the media has a major role to play in it and they need to come out with factual information.
“Let people know the truth. Every time, when an action takes place, they are looking for media support and if you (media) give them that support and mileage, it will embolden them and do more actions,” he added.
Talking of those hindering anti-terror operations by security forces, Gen Rawat warned, “Whoever disrupts the security forces’ operations, needs to be dealt with sternly.”
“Security forces conduct operations to neutralise those who are out to cause violence. But if some people out there prevent the security operations, stop them from eliminating militants and allow them to escape, they are simply the supporters of terrorists,” said Gen Rawat.
He added that the action is being taken also against those, who are aiding and abetting terrorism in the Valley.
“Some of them finance militants and some provide them with information. Where ever such information is given, we take action,” he added.
On infiltration, the Army chief said the security forces’ resolve to stop infiltration from across the border was intact.
“We have been successful in stopping infiltration. Most of the terrorists operating are locals,” he said, but added that the launch pads across the border are still active and they keep changing.
“Their full efforts are focused on staging infiltration of militants into the state. As the winter is approaching, these infiltration attempts would increase. They would try to infiltrate but our troops are alert. They would foil the militants’ infiltration bids and force them to return,” Gen Rawat said.
Maintaining that the situation along the border and in the hinterland is “totally under control”, Gen Rawat said the Army is replying befittingly to cease fire violations by the Pakistan army and “nothing that we have seen in the past, is been done now.” Talking of bids of infiltration via International Border in Jammu, Gen Rawat said, “They are trying to stage infiltration via IB in Jammu. We are alert. Recently a security review meeting took place in Jammu. We will take action. We neutralised militants and did not allow them inside where they can cause damage.”
Replying to a question on disruption of the ongoing poll process in Chhattishgarh by Naxals, he said that these people are trying disrupt democratic processes by triggering violence.
“But let us wait for the result to come. People will come out in large numbers. We are a proud democracy and believe in governance through democracy,” he said.
He said, “We want to ensure that the governance is carried through democratic process via grassroots level.
“Panchayati institutions and others are being favoured by the Government (in J&K). But these people are forcefully preventing the people to come out and vote. Otherwise, they will vote in large numbers,” he added.
He downplayed the reports of the emerging threat of revival of militancy in Punjab but said there is need to remain alert.
“There is not much threat (of revival of militancy) in Punjab, but we need to be alert about it. It is better to be alert than to allow things (to go out of hand),” the Army chief said.
He was replying to question about the emerging threat of revival of the militancy in Punjab after recoveries and arrests of some people in various places in Punjab and the ‘Referendum 2020′ campaign started by separatist and pro-Khalistan elements from other countries.
“The Governments were fully aware of this and were taking appropriate action. Union Government is taking full action on this. We are fully aware of what is happening. Punjab Chief Minister (Amarinder Singh) is concerned about this. He is taking action to ensure that this kind of violence does not spread in the state of Punjab”, he added.
Gen Rawat said that the people of Punjab, who had gone through this, will ensure that violence will not spread. “They are the ones who will not allow the insurgency to grow. While outsiders will attempt to revive militancy, the people, are very strong, will not allow it” the Army chief said.
Gen Rawat downplayed that the threats issued to him by the separatist group, Sikhs For
Justice (SFJ) and said that he was not bothered by them.
Earlier, the two days `Samman Samaroh’ for the disabled soldiers in line of duty organized by Gurj Division under the aegis of Western Command was inaugurated by Gen Rawat, at Mamun Military Station in Pathankot this morning.
The event was attended by Brand Ambassadors headed by Maj Gen SK Razdan, Sub Maj (Hony Capt) Bana Singh, other decorated disabled soldiers and Param Vir Chakra (PVC) winners.
Lt Gen Surinder Singh, Army Commander, Western Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen YVK Mohan, GOC Rising Star Corps, Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, GOC White Knight Corps, Maj Gen K Narayanan, GOC Gurj Division, Maj Gen Sharad Kapur, GOC Tiger Division, many Senior Army officials and civil dignitaries also joined the function.
Over 500 serving and retired disabled soldiers of Indian Army residing in North India were present at the `Samman Samaroh’.
The event started with national anthem, followed by ALH fly past. After the address by Army Commanders, the Army chief along with the brand ambassadors released the `First Day Cover’. The Army chief, Army Commanders and Corps Commanders felicitated the disabled soldiers with souvenirs.
In his address, the Chief of Army Staff reiterated the commitment of Indian Army towards rehabilitation and welfare of disabled soldiers and their families. He presented large numbers of `Mobility Aids’ to the affected disabled soldiers.
A series of events planned over two days include martial art performance, band display, light and sound show of `Battle of Saragrahi’, musical concert, awareness programmes and ‘bara khana’.

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