Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Jan 24: Army today said that the security in Kashmir has been intensified on the eve of visit of United States President Barack Obama to India and Army is ready for any challenge.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt General Subrata Saha, told reporters on the sidelines of a blood donation camp at BB cantonment here that there is enhancement of security on the occasion of the high profile visit. “There is high level visit taking place and therefore all necessary security measures are being taken. It is intensified in terms of patrolling and in terms of surveillance keeping all the sensitive areas under care and protection. All measures are in place”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that like every year the security on the occasion of Republic day has been enhanced. “Every year on the occasion of Republic day there is enhancement of security measures. This year as well there are enhanced security measures”, he added.
On the security of the schools in view of inputs that the militants may target school on the pattern of last year’s Peshawar attack, the GOC said that all necessary security measures will be taken. “All the schools are closed this time and as and when the schools re-open necessary security measures will be taken”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that declaring of Jamat-ul-Dawa as terror network by Pakistan is an important announcement and Army is monitoring its implementation on the ground by Pakistan. “To begin with, it is certainly an important announcement and we will wait and see. How this announcement manifests on the ground and how it is implemented. And quiet clearly it is engaging our attention and we are monitoring the events. We are seeing how it is done”, he added.
The GOC said that the situation along the LoC in Kashmir is stable. “In Kashmir region right now the situation on the LoC is stable. As you are aware during the last 48 hours plus there has been snowfall varying from 18 inches and at other places over 30 inches. That is the current ground situation and there are no indicators to suggest any thing that you are asking (rise in levels of infiltration)”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that militants are making repeated attempts of infiltration and ceasefire violations do take place in Kashmir. “In North of Pir Panjal it is not that we have not seen ceasefire violations. We had ceasefire violations and we had repeated attempts of infiltration”, he added.
The GOC said that the Army has successfully dealt with the ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts along the LoC. “I would not say that there is nothing happening North of Pir Panjal. I would say in 2014, 101 terrorists were eliminated and out of which 59 were eliminated in the process of infiltration and you can’ t say nothing is happening north of Pir Panjal. Ceasefire violations have taken place and in the North of Pir Panjal we have dealt with them in the manner they needed to dealt with. We have dealt with them tactfully and controlled and retaliated effectively”, he added.
The GOC said that there are 17 launching pads across near the LoC and around 160 militants are ready to infiltrate. “Our estimate is that the figure would be around 150-160 based on the assessment of the month of November. From North to South there are 17 small and big launching pads”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that there are around 180 militants operating in Kashmir valley and said that the situation is under control. “Our estimate is that in whole of Kashmir figure of militants is 170-180. It is not that the situation is grave as you suggest. We have just gone through process of elections successfully”, he added.
The GOC said that Army has continued its successes in 2015 and has eliminated 8 militants so far. “We have eliminated 101 terrorists last year and it is higher as compared to 62 in 2013 and 69 in 2012. And even as we began this year we already had eliminated 8 terrorists including 5 in South Kashmir”, he added.
In the meantime, a statement issued by the Army said: “In the run up to Republic Day and 67th Army Day, Blood Donation and Awareness Camp was organized under the aegis of Chinar Corps at 92 Base Hospital located in Badami Bagh Cantonment, Srinagar on January 24, 2015”.
“The number of events are being organised by Chinar Corps in the run up of 67th Army Day and Republic Day. The blood donation camp was organised at 92 Base Hospital Srinagar on Jan 24, 2015, wherein Army personnel’s voluntarily donated more than 250 units of blood. The purpose of this camp was to help patients requiring blood transfusion at Srinagar and nearby areas”, the statement said.
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