2018 remarkable year for Valley CI-Ops: Army Cmdr

Civilian injured in Pak firing in Rajouri

JAMMU: Security forces met considerable success in anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 by eliminating several top ultras who were targeting security forces and civilians, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said Thursday.

The top Commander was speaking to reporters in Poonch where reviewed the prevailing security situation in the backdrop of heavy firing and shelling by Pakistan troops this month along the Line of Control (LoC).

However, even as Lt Gen Singh asserted that the Army was replying befittingly to Pakistani aggression along the Line of Control (LoC) less than 12 hours after the enemy nation violated the ceasefire once again, targeting forward posts in Poonch, the firing from across the fence injured a civilian in neighbouring Rajouri district.
"From the security point of view, 2018 has been a best year for the forces. More than 250 terrorists were killed, nearly 54 arrested and four surrendered," Singh told reporters in Poonch.

He said the number of terrorists killed last year in the valley was highest in the past 10 years.

He was replying to questions regarding the security situation in the valley in the backdrop of the 'Operation All Out'.

He also said the Army was replying befittingly to Pakistani aggression along the Line of Control (LoC) in the state.

"Our operation has been successful. We have been able to eliminate a number of militants, who were targeting security forces and civilians. We have foiled their designs," he said.

Replying to questions about the continuous ceasefire violations along the LoC and five Pakistan soldiers reportedly being killed in Indian retaliation, Singh said, "The report you (media) said about the killing of five Pakistan soldiers in the last few days, it shows that the Indian Army is giving a befitting reply to every nefarious act of Pakistan."

He said the Army was a step ahead of Pakistan as far as giving a befitting reply is concerned.

About the planting of IEDs along the LoC to target security forces, the official said it "is nothing new".

"For the past several years, they have been planting IEDs in our areas. We take care of it. Sometime the IEDs explode and cause casualties but our endeavour is to remain vigilant along the border," he said.

Earlier in the day, Lt Gen Singh visited forward posts of Poonch Sector to review the operational preparedness and the prevailing security situation, a senior Army officer said.

During the visit to the sector, the Army Commander was briefed by the commanders on ground about the current operational situation, prevailing security dynamics and the preparedness of the formations in dealing with the same, the officer said.

Meanwhile, a civilian was injured Thursday when Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and resorted to firing and mortar shelling along the LoC in Rajouri district, officials said.

Pakistan troops resorted to firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Nowshera sector, the officials said.

The ceasefire violation resulted in injuries to a civilian who has been hospitalised, they said.

The fresh breach of LoC peace came hours after Pakistani army violated ceasefire in Poonch district.

"The firing started when Pakistan's Army violated the ceasefire by firing between 0300 hrs to 0430 hrs," Army sources said.

"The Pakistani fire was effectively retaliated," an official said.