Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 4: Northern Army Command chief Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra today visited forward snowbound areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla and Kupwara districts and called upon the troops manning forward posts to remain in very high alert in view of reports that the militants could make intensified efforts to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Winding up his three days visit to the Kashmir Valley including forward areas in Kupwara and Baramulla districts, the traditional infiltration routes of the militants, Lt Gen Chachra accompanied by GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen Gurmit Singh called upon the Commanders and the jawans deployed in forward areas to maintain utmost vigil during snowfall as there had been reports that the militants would take advantage of snow to infiltrate into this side from the LoC.
Lauding the brave troops manning the LoC despite adverse weather conditions, the GOC-in-C Northern Command hoped that the troops would be able to keep the infiltration to zero level to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to disturb the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, which were due in the current year.
Lt Gen Chachra visited forward posts along the LoC in Baramulla and Kupwara districts and inter-acted with the Army personnel deployed there for on spot assessment of the situation. The field commanders briefed the GOC-in-C about the ground situation including attempts by the militants to enter into this side and presence of the militants on Pakistan side of the LoC.
The Army Commander called upon the Army officers and jawans to maintain utmost restraint during anti-terror operations and ensure that there were no human rights violations and collateral damage.
He set the agenda for the Army deployed in Kashmir for 2014. The key components of his deliberations and directions were ‘zero tolerance to the human right violations’ and ‘sustaining peace in the State irrespective of the threats.’ He told the Army personnel that peace has to be maintained in the Kashmir Valley at any cost.
The Army Commander emphasised on the zero tolerance to human right violations and exercise of restrain during operations, wherever civilian lives and property are involved. He lauded the Jammu and Kashmir Police for their role in the successful joint operations with no collateral damage.
The Army Commander assured the people residing in the isolated and inhospitable areas along the Line of Control of all kinds of support by Army during the winters.
The Army Commander along with Lt Gen Gurmit Singh visited the forward areas and formation headquarters in Kupwara and Baramulla districts apart from as also in the hinterland.
During his visits to the formations deployed on the Line of Control, the Army Commanders briefed him in detail about the winter posture of the counter infiltration grid and also the winter logistics for the forward areas.
While visiting the Counter Insurgency Force Headquarters at Sharifabad and Awantipora, the deliberations of the Northern Army Command chief revolved around the ‘Winter Imdad’ (winter help) to the `Awaam’ (people) residing in the hinterland during the period of ‘Chillai Kalan’. He also directed that the disaster relief programmes for the landslide and snow slide prone areas must be worked out to cater for any eventuality that may arise during the winter months.
The Army Commander appreciated the efforts of the Army personnel located near Drugmulla, who averted a major fire incident at village Shadipora and saved precious human lives and property. He also awarded the prestigious Army Commander’s Commendation Cards to the two J&K Police Officers and a SPO from Handwara, Tral and Budgam for their bravery and dedication during counter terrorist operations, setting a fine example of synergy between the security forces. He congratulated the security forces for successful conduct of various joint operations.
Official data revealed that since 2004, not even a single active case of human rights violations against the Army has been reported in Jammu region. It said since 1992, a total of 39 cases of rights violations were reported against the troops, of which, nine have been closed by police as baseless while eight cases have been resolved by the Army in which the officials and jawans found guilty have been awarded with strict punishment.
The Army’s concern for human rights violations has also been reflected in the recent announcement of court martial proceedings against the six officers and jawans involved in Machhal encounter case and efforts to record evidences in Pathribal case including sending the court which was set up at Nagrota to the Kashmir Valley to take statements of civilians, who were unwilling to travel to Nagrota.
Army has taken over three cases for trial while in remaining 19 cases, the retired and serving officers and jawans have been directed to co-operate with police and Crime Branch, the investigating agencies of the cases.
“The Army has been rarely taking the recourse to AFSPA and Central Government sanction in the cases.
Army is making all efforts for protection and promotion of human rights at all levels. A separate branch know as Human Rights branch has also been established in Formation Headquarters of Army at all level to fasten the pending cases of human rights and to train its troops on the human rights issues,’’ official sources said.
However, they added that there are many players like anti-national elements, separatists and provocateurs who always tried to malign the clean image of the Armed Forces by making false allegations and doubting its sincere approach by stating that the Armed Forces have adopted a biased and unprofessional stand in handling cases of human rights violations against it personnel to lower their morale and disrupt the effectual measures adopted to handle the terrorism in the State.
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