Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 14: The militants along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) are desperate for infiltration as Army last year received over 600 inputs about infiltration into Kashmir.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt General Satish Dua, told a news conference here that the terrain along the LoC is such that infiltration does take place but the Army has been able to limit the numbers.
“The terrain is such that infiltration does take place. I will not deny that. In 2015, there were more than 600 inputs of infiltration.
However, because of the counter-infiltration grid and our alertness on the LoC, we have been able to limit their numbers. You all know, 10-15 years ago, the kind of infiltration that used to take place. Today, that is down to a trickle. The terrain is treacherous, mountainous and there are thick forests and some do manage to infiltrate,” said Lt Gen Dua.
The GOC said that since last three months there are inputs about infiltration and Army is regularly conducting operations along the LoC. “Since about the last three months, we had many intelligence inputs about infiltration taking place and several operations were conducted in the area of Kupwara. We get regular inputs and we launch operations accordingly. In Lolab few days back we eliminated three militants”, he added.
Lt General Dua said that due to effective counter infiltration grid along the LoC, the infiltrated groups are not allowed to move to the hinterland. “The militant groups have not been able to move to the hinterland because of a very effective and robust counter-infiltration grid. That is the success of the counter-infiltration grid. That is the reason that you are seeing that these killings are taking place in the area of Kupwara,” he said.
The GOC said that the infiltrators who manage to cross over are trapped in the reception areas just behind the LoC.
Lt General Dua said that there is decrease in the number of infiltrators on the launch pads in PoK these days as compared to summer. “The numbers that are waiting across in the launch pads used to be higher during summers. Presently, the numbers have come down. They are little under 100,” he said.
Dua said the Pathankot attack did not necessitate any changes for the Army in Kashmir valley as they constantly keep improving their measures. “Our measures on the LoC and in the depth of it were already very strong and have been like that for years. We constantly keep improving them. Pathankot incident did not have to bring about or necessitate any changes for us. We are constantly improving it and we have a robust grid on the LoC,” he said.
The GOC said that the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group has been eliminated after the killing of their commander Adil Pathan in November last year. He said that there may be some odd one present in the North Kashmir rest there is no presence of the group in Kashmir. He said that JeM made two attempts last year in Tanghdar sector but Army foiled those.
The GOC said that the number of militants in Kashmir have decreased due to successful operations. “There has been no increase in the presence of terrorists. Their numbers are decreasing,” he said. The Army Commander was addressing the media after paying floral tributes to two jawans who were killed in an encounter with militants in Kupwara yesterday. While giving details about the Chowkibal operation he said:
“In Chowkibal, Trehgam, two days ago five terrorists were holdup in a house. When we got the information, our troops moved in and it was a night long operation. At the end of it, all five terrorists were eliminated. In the operation, unfortunately, we lost two of our own soldiers, two were martyred and two were injured.”
Lt Gen Dua said that Army is ascertaining whether the group had infiltrated recently or not. “They were all foreign terrorists and belonged to LeT and it is being ascertained whether it was a newly infiltrated group or not”, he said.
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