Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Oct 18: Army today said that it has increased its preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) after the surgical strikes on militant launching pads camps in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and is ready for any challenge.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 corps Lt Gen Satish Dua told a news conference here at Boniyar in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district that Army is ready for any misadventure from across the LoC. “We are prepared for any such misadventure that they may plan. On the Line of Control, our preparation has increased. So we are prepared for both to maintain the sanctity of the LoC as well as for counter infiltration”, he said.
“Along the LoC, our preparedness is of the highest degree. The Army is ready to deal with any misadventure from across the LoC, whether it is by regulars or otherwise,” the GOC said.
Lt Gen Dua said there has been a spurt in infiltration attempts from across the LoC, but the Army foiled most of these bids as is evident from the encounters taking place near the LoC. “I do admit that some infiltration has taken place, but the encounters along the LoC and the number of militants eliminated shows the preparedness of the Army”, he said.
The GOC said that surge in infiltration during summer is as usual and militants are desperate. “Every year during this time of the year, there is increased attempts of infiltration ahead of winter. So this year also, there have been attempts, the desperation is showing. We had frequent attempts of infiltration as can be seen by several encounters that we had in the vicinity of LoC and so many infiltration bids have been foiled and terrorists killed”, he said.
Lt General Dua said that Army has launched operations against militants but initially during the unrest, the Army suspended operations to avoid collateral damage. “Whenever we have information we are launching operations to get these militants. Initially, for some time when there were crowds on the roads and there were protests going on, we didn’t launch many operations because they were seeking refuge behind the crowds and we didn’t want any collateral damage”, he said.
The Army officer said the weapon snatching from security forces by militants is a cause of concern. “Weapon snatching is certainly a cause of concern. Police and Army are working together to see how we can increase the strength of these people so that weapon snatching is not there”, he said.
Replying to a question, Lt Gen Dua said there were reports of some boys having joined militant ranks, but their exact number could not be ascertained due to the unrest. “Police have been carrying out raids and making arrests due to which some boys have gone into hiding. So it is difficult to put a specific number to how many of them have joined the terror groups”, he said.
The GOC said that some of the youth have ex-filtrated and hoped to bring “misguided” youth back to mainstream. “Some boys have gone across (the LoC), I do concede that. There are some misguided youths and we hope to bring them back into the mainstream. The unrest is only affecting the poor,” he added.
Asked if there was a trust deficit between the Army and the Kashmiri youth, Gen Dua said while there were some misguided youths who take part in protests, the majority were with the armed forces. “Recently, one of our vehicles met with an accident and our jawans were trapped inside the vehicle. It was the local Kashmiri youths who extricated the jawans.
“We have conducted some anti-militancy operations recently and the youths have not indulged in stone-pelting after the purpose of the operation was explained to them,” said the GOC.
Asked about the September 18 Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were killed, the Army officer said the Army has learnt lessons and implemented improvements after the incident. “Uri was a sad incident that happened. As it happens after every such incident Army learns lessons about inadequacies and gaps and we improve them and that process has been implemented”, he said.
Lt Gen Dua said soldiers equivalent to two brigades, in addition to CRPF personnel, have been inducted for maintaining law and order in the Valley. “The purpose of these additional Army units has been to calm things down. Since these units have come up around Eid, things have actually calmed down in South Kashmir. You will very soon see peace and quiet in the Valley again, he said.
The GOC refused to comment on the surgical strikes by the Army in PoK last month, saying the armed force and the political leadership has already said whatever was to be said about it. “I do not have any different point of view,” he added.
Earlier, Lt Gen Dua today dedicated Chinar 9 Jawan club to local youth at Boniyar village of Uri.
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