Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 19: Western Army Command chief Lt Gen KJ Singh said today that Red Corner Notice (RCN) issued against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar could help India in getting the militant as other countries will also guard against his movement even as he declared that Army with the help of civilians will foil militant designs to infiltrate and create trouble on this side.
In a brief chat with media and address to the people during final of ‘Jagruk Hindustani Premier Volleyball League’ at Samba this evening, Lt Gen Singh, whose Command looks after three border districts of Jammu, Samba and Kathua in Jammu region apart from Pathankot and other areas, said the Red Corner Notice against international terrorist Masood Azhar would go long way in curbing his activities.
Noting that Masood Azhar had masterminded January 2 terror attack at Pathankot airbase, the GOC-in-C Western Command said: “everybody knows that attack on the airbase was planned and executed by Jaish-e-Mohammad’’. He described as “unfortunate and unjustified’’ the Pakistani investigators’ claim that the attack was handiwork of “insiders’’.
“How can they (the Pakistanis) say that? Everybody knows that the attack was carried out by the JeM outfit. We had given Pakistani investigators enough evidence of Jaish involvement in the attack when their Joint Investigating Team (JIT) had visited India including Pathankot, the site of the attack,’’ he said.
He rejected Pakistan’s allegation of “insider’s role” in the terrorist attack on Pathankot airbase and said it was planned and sponsored from across the border.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) that probed the terrorist attack has ruled out the role of an “insider”, Lt Gen Singh said.
“NIA has carried out a thorough probe an investigation and said that there was no insider hand. The statement of the Pakistani team is incorrect”, he said.
Singh said the attack on the airbase was “planned and sponsored” from across the border.
“It (the attack) was all sponsored, controlled, planned and logistics provided from across the border, especially by Jaish-e-Mohammed. People have been named, we have asked for Red Corner notice against them,” he said.
“Our investigation agency has carried a very thorough probe. They have screened the concerned people and a conclusive judgment has been arrived at that there was no insider hand”, Lt Gen Singh said.
Replying to a question on China blocking Indian move to get Azhar Masood declared as an international terrorist at the United Nations recently, Lt Gen Singh described the Chinese move as “unfortunate’’.
“We can’t treat terrorism as ‘good or bad’, ‘their or ours’. Terrorism is Terrorism and this menace has to be curbed by all,’’ he said, adding instead of blocking the Indian move, China should have helped India to get Azhar declared as terrorist as he was instrumental in terror activities.
To another question on BSF today lodging protest with Rangers on construction of tunnel in RS Pura sector, which was detected on March 3, the Army Commander said: “we have to be vigilant. Pakistan will do such kind of activities (construction of tunnels to facilitate infiltration attempts) but we have to be alert and thwart Pakistani designs’’.
On the allegations leveled by some people that the Army was not allowing them to construct the second storey of their houses near an ammunition depot, he said it is necessary for the security of the nation.
“See if you have to secure your nation, you have to make some sacrifice, no security can be done without sacrifice,” Lt Gen Singh said.
He said, that people need to be made aware about the terrorist activities and it is the common civilian who can give information about militant activities to the Army.
“Terrorist who infiltrate moves about 10 to 15 km inside Indian territory, he has to change his clothes, he often takes lift or hijacks a car and there are certain civilians who spot this activity and if they inform the security agencies at an early stage such activities can be tackled”, he said.
In his address to the people, the Lt Gen Singh lauded courage and valour of the border people especially youth and said a message has gone across the border (Pakistan) that they will not fall prey to the terrorists.
“This message has gone across the border that the people here wouldn’t allow any kind of disturbances and thwart unholy designs of militants, who tried to disturb peace in the State,’’ he said adding that people of the three border districts including Jammu, Samba and Kathua have progressed economically and topped in education and they were mature enough to see through the enemy designs and foil them.
In this connection, he mentioned names of several youths in the border areas of Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts apart from Udhampur, who had helped in tracking down the militants and even nabbed them.
“I was present at the function in New Delhi when President Pranab Mukherjee presents ‘Shaurya Chakras’ to two youths of Narsu, Samroli in Udhampur district, who had captured alive the Pakistani militant, Naved in August last year,’’ the Army Commander said.
Stressing the need for high alert on the borders, both by Army and civilians, the Lt Gen Singh observed that “if we are alert, they (the militants) can’t come. If we keep on sounding security forces about undesirable movements, they (the militants) can’t succeed’’.
He said it was time for the people of border districts especially the youth to remain alert and aware, the Army Commander said this way the people can help security forces a lot to foil designs of the militants.
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