Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Aug 16: Army today said there have not been significant ceasefire violations from across the Line of Control (LoC) in the Valley, but attempts to infiltrate are going to be there in the coming time.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt General Gurmeet Singh while speaking to reporters said that there has been no significant ceasefire violation in Kashmir valley but attempts to infiltrate are there.
“Also, I like to highlight their infrastructure and apparatus close to the launchpads and their activities indicate that they are going to attempt infiltration in the coming time,” the GOC said.
Lt Gen Singh said that the Army is maintaining high alertness along the LoC. “There is a high alertness on the LoC. There have been continuous efforts for infiltration. The activities and launchpads (across the border) are slightly hiked up”, he added.
“I am also aware about the visit of a senior terrorist and the coordination which is being done on the other side. I am cautious and it is a matter of commitment that we will maintain our effective counter infiltration grid on LoC,” the GOC said.
Lt Gen Singh said there will be an appropriate response to ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts. “We are very alert and conscious of the faith the nation has reposed in us. In fact, our drills and procedures of countering ceasefire violation is well rehearsed and there will be an appropriate response,” he said.
The GOC said militant groups are trying to infiltrate experienced men to this side of the border as most of the militant leaders here have been eliminated. “In the recent operations, we have been able to eliminate a large number of their leaders. A terrorist we killed very recently was aged 55 years, an experienced and an important leader of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). This slain terrorist was tall, healthy and imposing and indicates that with this level of experience, they (LeT) were trying to induct a senior leader in this area,” he added.
He said the wallet recovered from the militant contained Rs 10,000 in Indian currency and Rs 1,000 in Pakistani currency. He said in the Keran sector of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, Army gunned down four “important” militants and recovered six weapons including three AK-47s and one Pika rifle.
The Army displayed the huge cache of arms and ammunition including assault rifles, pistols, bullets, clothing materials and medicines all carrying Pakistan markings that were recovered over last one and a half month from the dead militants in North Kashmir.
The GOC said Army killed 28 militants on the LoC and in the hinterland in Kashmir since the June 24 Hyderpora attack in which 8 army men were killed a day before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Kashmir and recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition.
“Since the Hyderpora attack of June 24, there have been a series of successful operations both on LoC and in the hinterland area. We have killed 28 terrorists in this period, out of which 18 were eliminated on the LoC and 10 in the hinterland,” Lt Gen Singh said.
The GOC said eight of the slain militants were those who were injured and crossed back but died immediately on the other side of the LoC. “We have inputs related to their deaths in those areas,” he added.
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