BSF fully prepared to tackle infiltration: DG

No security cover to every DDC candidate: IGP

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Nov 19: Director General of Border Security Forces, Rakesh Asthana, today said that they are fully prepared to tackle the infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of ‘Infinity Ride 2020’ here at Dal lake today, the DG BSF said that the force is fully prepared to face the challenges. “We are the first line of defence and we are committed and determined to protect the country. We are fully prepared to face challenges. There are attempts (of continuous infiltration) and we are fully prepared to tackle such bids”, he said.
“There are attempts to push in militants into the country; particularly, this period is very suitable for such activities so we are taking all the countermeasures effectively. We are committed to foil such attempts and we will tackle the situation effectively”, he added.
Asthana said that they are getting reports of militants waiting on launch pads across and they are working to counter it. “It is a situation that requires a lot of attention and alertness. We keep getting inputs about the launch pads across the border and in order to counter it, all the agencies are working in tandem. Today’s encounter in Jammu depicts the alertness of the forces”, he said.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, on the occasion said that they are fully prepared for DDC polls and the militants killed today in Jammu had come to disturb peace.
“The militants had come to disturb peace ahead of elections; however, due to the alertness of the forces in Jammu, all the four militants have been neutralized”, he said.
“We are fully prepared for the elections, those who have filed the papers have already started campaigning and there is no need to worry” he added.
Kumar said that they have given adequate security to candidates but clarified that they can’t be individually protected at their residences. “We will not be able to provide the security to each and every candidate. We are providing them collective security by putting them up in secure locations and when they are out on campaigning, we are providing them double escorts and are allowing them to go only after securing the area”, he said.
“The target of the militants (in yesterday’s incident in Pulwama) was the police and CRPF where a grenade was hurled due to which civilians were injured and they are all stable. We have identified the militant who was involved in the incident and we will be able to track him down soon”, he said.
Meanwhile, militants including a top JeM commander today managed to flee from the cordon in Parigam area of Pulwama in South Kashmir after security forces launched an operation following inputs about presence of a group of militants in the village.
An official said that as per specific inputs two militants including Jash-e-Mohammad commander Lambo Bhai were trapped in Parigam village today.
He said that the militants fled soon after the gunfight broke out but security forces are tracking their movement. The gunfight lasted for a brief time during which they managed to flee.