‘Infiltration down this year’
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 10: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lieutenant General BS Raju, today said that Pakistan has not changed its ways of helping militants to infiltrate into Kashmir to fan violence and trouble in the region.
He said that 250-300 militants are ready to infiltrate at launching pads established on the other side of Line of Control (LoC).
The GOC 15 Corps said this while talking to reporters on the sidelines of the passing-out-cum attestation parade at JAKLI Centre at Rangreth in Srinagar outskirts.
He said that Pakistan has failed to mend its ways of helping militants to infiltrate into this part of Kashmir but Army is enough skilled to teach a lesson to neighboring country. “Pakistan is continuously helping militants to infiltrate into Kashmir with an aim to destabilize peaceful atmosphere in the region”, he added.
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He said that few ceasefire violations are reported at Line of Control (LoC) but maintained situation is “under control”. He said Army needs people’s support to frustrate the designs of Pakistan which is continuously pushing infiltrators into Kashmir.
Lauding the efforts of Army while foiling the infiltration bids at LoC, the GOC said that effective counter infiltration mechanism has declined the attempts of infiltration by militants this year.
“This year we have stopped infiltration bids to a large extent. Last year till October, 126 militants had managed to enter into Kashmir. However this figure during current year witnessed a decline and the number has reached to just 30”, he said.
The GOC said this morning Army foiled a weapon smuggling bid into Kashmir across the Kishan Ganga river and recovered 4 AK rifles. He said army is containing the situation and has recovered cache of arms as effective surveillance mechanism has been put in place.
He said that anti-militancy operations are on across the Valley during which militants are being killed continuously both in the hinterland and on the LoC. “This morning, Army killed two militants including a foreigner in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district. It has been seen where foreign militants got killed the area witnessed peace afterwards”, he said.
The GOC said that after six months the local recruitment into militant ranks went up again last month. “During last six months there was a decline in local recruitment but it went up again in last month”, he added.
To a query about surrender policy, the GOC said that several youth who had joined militant ranks are giving up now as such things are being kept hidden for several reasons. “Local boys who were swayed and taken up arms have started coming back. They are being given every change to surrender and such things are being kept into secret”, the GOC said.
When asked about the comparison of south Kashmir to northern parts, the GOC said that there is no doubt that recruitment is South Kashmir is little higher than in North Kashmir but situation is under control.
To a question about Panchayat elections, the GOC said that as the Government of Jammu and Kashmir has already given nod to its conduct. “We are hopeful that people from all areas will come forward for the development of their respective areas”, he added.
On Shopian fake encounter, the Army Commander said the Court of Inquiry (CoI) has been completed and on the basis of the inquiry we found some wrong was committed. “We have ordered a summary of evidence and have covered some distance. Hopefully, we will reach the next stage soon”, he said.
When asked whether there is any indication of assistance by China into infiltration bids at LoC, the GOC maintained that so far there is no such evidence of direct strategic or logistic support from China but as far as CPEC is concerned, the reports cannot be ruled out.
He also added that economic activity has also been started in Kashmir and apple and paddy cultivation has resumed. The GOC further added that Army along with people are containing the COVID-19 pandemic situation meticulously.
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