Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 28: Army today said that infiltration of militants from Pakistan into Kashmir is on rise this year with large numbers of them waiting on the launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) but troops are alert to terminate maximum of the infiltration attempts at the LoC.
Speaking to reporters at Pattan in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) Kilo Force, Major General A K Singh, said that this year large number of militants are waiting on the launch pads across the LoC to infiltrate into Kashmir. “This year, there are large number of militants on launch pads. Around 200 to 250 are there”, he said.
Major General Singh said that as Pakistan wants to push these infiltrators, troops along the LoC are on heightened alert. “Pakistan wants to push them into Kashmir. This year we have heightened security along the Line of Control (LoC) and we have put in place mechanism to eliminate maximum number of militants on the LoC only. You have seen during past 10-15 days and it is the result of this only, the alertness of Indian Army”, he said.
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The GOC said as the infiltration and number of militants is on higher side this year, the number of security forces operations have also increased. “Infiltration this year is on rise and the number of the militants in Kashmir valley is also on higher side. As both on are higher side the number of the operations has also increased”, he said.
Major General Singh said that despite propaganda carried out only few youth are inclined to militancy. “It is my understanding that any young man who joins militancy it is a challenge for the people of Kashmir. The number of youth in Kashmir is large and only a few of them are inclined to militancy. I think this is an achievement for us as despite the propaganda only insignificant numbers of youth are joining militancy”, he said.
The Army Commander said that there are around 95 militants in North Kashmir and operations against them are on. “I don’t think the killing of Sabzar Bhat can lead to more militancy. Militancy decreases with the killing of militants. In North Kashmir, there are around 90-95 militants and our operations against them are going on. I hope the number of militants will come down”, he said.
The GOC said that the joining of youth into militancy is a challenge for them. “For long time, the efforts are being made to radicalize the youth and it is due to this some youth turn to militancy but their number is very less but yes it is a challenge for us. We want this come to be zero”, he said.
Earlier around 800 Kashmiri youths appeared in the common entrance exam for selection of Junior Commissioned Officers and other ranks in the Army amid shut down following the killing of militant Sabzar Bhat.
“Defying bandh call from various inimical factions, 799 candidates appeared in the common entrance examination held at Pattan and Srinagar today,” GOC said. He said 16 of the 815 candidates, who had passed the physical and medicals tests held earlier, did not turn up for the written exam. “It is a clear rejection of regressive bandh calls, for choosing a brighter future,” the official said.
“The children of Kashmir want employment and that is why they turned in large numbers despite the strike and took part in this written examination. I am hopeful that if we make such efforts we can show right path to the youth of Kashmir”, Major General Singh said.
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