Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 26: Asserting that attempts will be made by Pakistan to engineer terrorism in Kathua-Samba region in Jammu, GOC-in-C Western Command Lt Gen KJ Singh today cautioned people and ex-servicemen to remain vigilant to foil such designs.
“As General (Goverdhan Singh) and (former Minister) Gulchain Singh Charak have said that attempts have been made (by Pakistan) in Jammu-Kathua to create terrorism. This is being done and it will continue to do so in future as well”, he said here today.
The Army Commander said the troops were imparting training to residents of frontier areas so that they can differentiate between terrorists and Indian jawans and help them check cross-border infiltration.
“The Army is imparting training to people residing along the IB so that they could make out between a terrorist and an Indian jawan,” said the GOC-in-C.
“He (infiltrator) tries his best to portray himself as a soldier but in the process makes many identifiable mistakes. We have educated people residing in the border areas how to identify (such mistakes),” Lt Gen Singh said.
The Army has educated people on how to pick out between an infiltrator from his dress and shoes.
“The border residents have developed a sixth sense as everyday they interact with the jawans of BSF and Territorial Army. Also, we have put some checks on ourselves. We have asked that no soldier will ever take a lift on a civilian vehicle,” he said.
“The soldiers move in large groups, they don’t operate individually. The terrorists never operate in a group of more than four people.
“The infiltrators are dressed shabbily with different shoes, they sport a bearded look whereas the soldiers follow a set of norms known to the local people,” he added.
The GOC-in-C also expressed confidence over the Army’s ability to thwart any infiltration attempt.
“But, it is the duty of every civilian & ex-servicemen living along the border line that we should remain vigilant and share any kind of information with related to such activities,” he said.
“In this endeavor, we have honoured some people to infuse such a sense among the people living in the border areas,” the GOC-in-C said.
In this regard, the Command has started two programmes- one Jagruk Hindustani Border Area Cricket League. Today was the final of this league, Lt Gen Singh said.
He was speaking at a function organised by J&K Ex-service League to observe Martyrdom of First Maha Vir Chakra Awardee of Indian Army, Brigadier Rajinder Singh, bestowed with the sobriquet of “The Saviour of Kashmir”.
“To make children of Jammu region aware of its warriors and brave martyr soldiers, we are organising a light and sound show at Balidan Memorial which gives description about the brave martyr soldiers. We will add a 10-minute capsule clip to it on Brigadier Rajinder Singh,” he said.
Speaking to reporters at the same function, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said the “demon of terrorism”, which was created and nourished by Pakistan is slowly “devouring” that very country.
“Pakistan has not learned to mend its ways despite the fact that the country itself is on the verge of disintegration. The situation which prevails in Balochistan, north-west and in Sindh, the demons which they have given birth too…The demon of terrorism, the very same demon is now devouring Pakistan,” he said.
“The need of the hour for Pakistan was to join hands with India and make a joint strategy to counter terrorism but they are not understanding the gravity of the situation and the way it has been targeting and firing on our borders in which many civilians were injured, shows that they have not learned a lesson from their own blunders,” he said.
The Minister said that Pakistan was also suffering in the process as the Indian security forces were giving a befitting reply to cross border firing.
“We are proud that our BSF and other security forces guarding the border are giving a befitting reply and Pakistan is also facing the heat”, Dr Singh said.
When asked about construction of safe bunkers for the border residents, he said, “Principally the State and the Centre have agreed (for the construction of bunkers along the IB).
“There is a process involved to acquire the land. There is a system and it is part of our priority but at present the situation which prevails (on the border) we have made arrangements to shift the people to safer places along with providing them food and other requirements,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Dr Singh noted that while providing plots to border residents at safer places was on the priority list of the Government, the Government does not want the people to completely vacate the borders.
On the issue of renewal of land lease to the Army for firing ranges, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the issue was under consideration of the State Government.
“See we should not take this as something which is Army versus civil administration. We have been giving the land needed by the Army to them and in future we will continue to do so. There is a proposal under way in Ladakh for heavy guns. We are also discussing about a firing range in Hiranagar”, he said.
Dr Singh noted that dealing with terrorism was a coordinated effort which needs coordination of different security agencies, including the Army, Police and other security forces.
On the allegations levelled by opposition parties that the BJP-PDP coalition has increased the wedge between the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Singh said, “We have won 2/3rd majority in Ladakh, the State Government is doing a wonderful job. The opposition was desperate as they are the losers so they have to say something and they are saying it”.
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