500 ultras waiting to infiltrate, over 200 active; will eliminate all: Northern Command

TNN Bureau. Updated: 10/12/2019 9:52:45 AM

JAMMU: Nearly 500 terrorists are waiting in various training camps along the Line of Control in Pak-occupied Kashmir to infiltrate into India, while 200 to 300 terrorists are operating within Jammu and Kashmir, Army’s Northern Command chief Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said on Friday, while asserting that his men are capable to foil any infiltration bid and even if the terrorists infiltrate, they will be eliminated.
Claiming that violence in the Kashmir has gone down since the abrogation of the Article 370 on August 5 and situation in valley is under control, the top commander said that terrorists in Kashmir are facing a shortage of arms.
“This is why they try to snatch or loot weapons from SPOs and police stations. Pakistan is in a fix over the situation and is trying different ways to send in the weapons,” he said.

--Surgical Strikes remain an open option
--Valley militants facing shortage of arms
--Kashmir Violence reduced post 370 scrap
--Afghanistani militants have not infiltrated

The commander also mentioned that the surgical strikes remain an open option for the Army and will be resorted to if the situation demands, while warning the locals across the LoC in Pakistan to attempt any march towards the LoC or cross it.
“They will get a befitting reply. The jawans and the officers have been given clear directions about this,” he said.
“Nearly 500 terrorists are waiting in various training camps along the Line of Control in Pak-occupied Kashmir and looking for opportunities to sneak into Jammu and Kashmir,” Singh, the General Officer Commander in Chief, Northern Command said.
"As far as militants operating within Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, 200 to 300 terrorists, who have come here, joined militants here," he told reporters after inaugurating the 'Sangam Youth Festival' at University Campus, Bhaderwah.
"Whatever be the number, we are capable to stop and eliminate them to ensure peace and normalcy in this region," he added.
The Army commander said it is always their endeavour to ensure peace and normalcy in J&K.
"But Pakistan keep trying to do some mischief to disturb the peace here. Even today terror infrastructure is being run within Pakistan (by its forces and agencies). These include training as launching pad for terrorists to infiltrate into the country," he added.
He said Pakistan continues to keep terrorists armed to their teeth and provide all types of support to them.
“Terrorists are facing a shortage of weapons in Kashmir. So they try to snatch weapons from Special Police Officers (SPO) or loot them from police stations,” the Army commander said.
“Even Pakistan has been caught in a difficult situation so it uses various ways to provide weapons to the terrorists in Kashmir,” he said.
“Deploying drones to arm terrorists is one of the new modus operandi of Pakistan. But I want to ensure you that Indian Army is capable and determined to foil Pakistan's any unholy design. Their designs will not be allowed to succeed," he said.
Responding to questions about reports of Afghan militants infiltrating into Kashmir, Singh said they have not been corroborated.
He said that the Army's counter-infiltration grid is very strong and the force is alert to foil any such attempts.
“If at all any infiltrators manage to cross over, they will be eliminated,” he added.
Asked about the terrorists training camps and launch pads along the Line of Control (LoC), Singh said, "We are able to thwart the infiltration bids at the LoC itself. It is a multi-tier grid. If they (militants) pass through the first tier, they will get caught up in second tier or may be in the following ones."
He said because the anti-infiltration grid is very strong along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, so the infiltration is taking place from other borders of the country.
Later, he added, the militants try to enter Jammu and Kashmir from Lakhanpur.
Speaking about surgical strikes, the Army commander said they remain an option.
"It (the option of surgical strikes) is available to the Indian armed forces," he said.
Which option has to be exercised when will depend on the situation and the manner in which the Army would like to surprise. The Army is fully prepared to take on any challenge depending on the conditions and the opportunities, he said.
Responding to a question about protests by locals along the LoC in Pakistan, Singh said, "Our warning still continues. If any of the people, with support of the Pakistani army, cross the LoC to enter into this side, they will get a befitting reply. Our strategy is very clear about it."
He said the jawans and the officers have been given clear directions about this.
"You must have seen that when some people assembled across the LoC some days ago in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the local police and the army stopped them and sent them back," he said.
Singh said the Army, based on intelligence inputs, keeps modifying its security grid in Jammu's Pir Panchal to prevent a return of militancy in areas to its south.
According to intelligence inputs, over 60 armed terrorists have infiltrated along LoC in Kashmir Valley and over 20 terrorists from LoC areas falling in south of Pir Panchal areas in the last two months.
The Army commander said there were reports about terrorists moving around Doda few days ago. The Army neutralised all of them in an operation in Batote.
Singh appealed to the locals to work with the Army to help eliminate terrorists.
"We call upon the people to ensure that militancy does not return to this region. We have seen the dividends of peace," he said.
Lt Gen Singh said he had high hopes from the valley's youngsters.
"The situation in valley is under control. Ever since the abrogation of article 370 on August 5, there has been significant improvement in all the violence parameters in Kashmir," Lt Gen Singh told.
"There has been reduction in terrorist initiated incidents. There has been reduction in stone pelting incidents. There has also been reduction in the protests that were carried out by the people or the large number of crowds coming out," he added.
But the situation remains fragile, because Pakistan continues with its designs to push in infiltrators so that they can keep the state of Jammu and Kashmir in a constant state of turmoil, the Army commander said.
"We are prepared to foil their designs," he added.
Replying to a question, he said there was no change in the role of the UN along the Line of Control.
Speaking about the festival, he said: "This is very humble contribution from the Army to provide a platform to the youth in Bhaderwah for nurturing their talent."
"They are the future not only of Jammu and Kashmir but the nation," he added.



Updated On 10/12/2019 10:49:06 AM

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