Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 5: Army today said that launch pads of militants across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are active and they are trying to infiltrate into Kashmir but troops are ready to face the challenge.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), Lt General Subrata Saha, said here today: “All the launch pads across the LoC in Kashmir are active. Estimates are that there are large number of militants and intensity of attempts to infiltrate is also high. Every day, we receive intelligence inputs and are visible as well. So, till our troops are deployed there, we understand we can face this challenge.”
The GOC said that so far there has been zero infiltration in Kashmir this year due to good intelligence network. “I think this is the first time that we have been able to achieve zero infiltration so far particularly in this period when the snow melts and it takes a while for the anti infiltration obstacle system, the fence to come up, so that it goes entirely to the credit of the soldiers who are operating on the ground and of course supporting them is a good intelligence network and improved surveillance grid and some very depth changes in depositions that have been done to be sure we were able to pre-empt all these attempts to infiltrate”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that there have been 8 infiltration attempts this year in which 17 militants were killed. “So far there were 8 attempts in which 17 terrorists were eliminated while trying to infiltrate. So I am very hopeful that this trend will continue and we will be able to maintain this and this is important”, he said.
The GOC credits the success along the LoC to the surveillance system and alertness of the troops deployed along the LoC. “Yes the intensity of infiltration attempts have been higher and why the people have succeeded it is because as I said, the very good alertness and actions by our troops who are deployed there. And the second thing is some very strong changes that were made into the dispositions so that we are at more tears and we made the frontlines a little thicker. And of course we enhanced surveillance grid and enhanced our intelligence systems and all the agencies especially in terms of intelligence have come together and are working”, he said.
Lt General Saha said that National Highway in Kashmir is much secured than past. “As far as Kashmir is concerned, we have no doubt that the highway as much as could be secured has been done. Our CRPF ROPs remain deployed. The Army provides corridor protection in their surroundings and Quick Reaction Teams patrol 24X7. We have left no gap as far as securing highway is concerned”, he said.
On the local youth joining militant ranks in large numbers, the GOC said that it is a cause of concern and added that Army is trying its best to engage the youth.”There are multiple reasons why is this happening. I think more important thing is, yes it is something we ought to be concerned about. And it is something that we are trying our best. If you see, even the initiative that we have taken today. Why is this initiative important? It is keeping the youth engage. We have taken boys tour from four engineering colleges. By seeing them the girls got getting motivated and now the girls are going. And, you have seen, you know how much happy they are looking at their future so brightly. So if you are able to carry forward these initiatives of engagements, empowerment, employment, I see no reason why this trend should continue”, he said.
On the attack in Tral area of South Kashmir in which two Army patrol parties fired at one another killing two Army men, Lt General Saha said: “It was an unfortunate case of mistaken identity where two night domination patrols in the general area of Noorpora Tral fired upon one other. In that we had unfortunately two fatal casualties and one person is injured. As I said it was a case of mistaken identity and details are still under investigation. So we are going to go into it how this whole thing happened”, he said.
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