SRINAGAR : Admitting that 2014 was a challenging year because of general Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State and continued threat of infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC), the GOC 15 Corps Lt General Gurmit Singh today said that troops are ready to meet any challenge.
However, during the first two months of 2014 security forces achieved major success by eliminating 11 militants and arrested 13 others, including some top commanders, Lt Gen Singh told reporters at the headquarters of Chinar Corps here this afternoon.
When asked if the situation will change in the region once the foreign security forces withdraw from Afghanistan, he said there is always threat of infiltration from across the LoC.
But, he said, troops remained on high alert even during this harsh winter to foil any infiltration attempt. We have anti-infiltration grid in place to meet any challenge from across the LoC, where a large number of militants are waiting to sneak into this side, he said.
Lt Gen Singh said last year troops were able to eliminate a large number of militants after their infiltration into this side.
The infiltration routes are under snow but there was no question of lowering the guards despite harsh weather conditions, he said.
The GOC said General Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections are also due this year. Security forces have to provide safe environment for peaceful polls.
He said troops in close coordination with each other killed 11 militants, including four from Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), District Commader Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) for north Kashmir and a militant of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) during the first two months.
He said thirteen militants, including District Commander of HM for south Kashmir were also arrested. Lt Gen Singh said there are strict instructions to all field commanders to respect the Human Rights while conducting any anti militant operation.
There would be zero tolerance on Human Rights violations, he declared and said anybody found exceeding his limit would have to face strict action. (AGENCIES)
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