Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 25: Army has set up a camp in the outskirts of Srinagar city in Wuyan area of South Kashmir to put pressures on militants in the area where they have been re-grouping for past one year after increased pressure in North Kashmir.
The 50 RR of Army’s counter insurgency Victor Force set up a camp in village Hergam Wuyan last night to prevent militants from targeting Srinagar city and National Highway from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen who of late have reportedly been regrouping in South Kashmir.
DIG South Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that camp was set up in the area as top LeT commander Sajjad belonged to the area and he has been making movements in the area alongwith his associates.
Earlier last year in October, Rashtriya Rifle of Victor Force had set up a camp in the outskirts of Srinagar, in village Chattergam in the Central Kashmir district of Budgam bordering South Kashmir. The camp was closed 3 years ago and was set up again last year to put pressure on militants in South Kashmir.
Sources said that the need for setting up of the Army camp was felt after militant movement was observed in South Kashmir with parts of Budgam and Pulwama district.
The security agencies say that feeling security pressure in North Kashmir, the LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen are trying to make South Kashmir as a new base. The LeT Divisional Commander for South Kashmir, Mohammad Qasim, is operating in South Kashmir for over a year now.
The Deputy of Qasim, Sajjad from village Zewan in the outskirts of Srinagar is active in South Kashmir for past 9 years. He along with his couple of men are said to be present in the area and camp has been set up to check their movement.
The decision to set up the security camps in the outskirts of Srinagar was taken in a review meeting held on July 8 last year. One camp was already set up at Chatergam in Budgam.
It may be mentioned here that large number of security forces camps were closed in South Kashmir few years ago after improvement in the situation. Taking advantage of decreased security presence, militants are trying to re-group.
The security forces didn’t want to take a chance at a time when Amarnath Yatra is round the corner and lakhs of pilgrims travel through South Kashmir for Darshan.
Last year in July militants targeted an Army party in Pampore town on the National Highway when tourism was at its peak and thousands of Amarnath Yatris were using Srinagar-Jammu national highway for the pilgrimage.
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