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Reducing vigil in J&K is premature: Army

Srinagar: Warning that separatists and other like-minded political parties trigger anti-security force protests to gain political mileage in view of decrease in violence in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army on Sunday said reducing vigil will invite an increase in the presence of terrorists. “A let-down in the vigil will invite an increase in the presence of terrorists who are simply waiting for an opportunity of this nature. Thus, any talk of reducing vigil in J& K is premature to say the least,” a senior army officer told PTI.

Prepares security assessment

The Army has also prepared a security assessment analysis after the Bomia (Sopore) incident, which has detailed information on militancy, violence, separatists machinations and terrorists’ strategy in the State. As the Situation in the State moves towards normalcy with a decrease in levels of violence an interesting statistic that has emerged is the number of protests against security forces that have increased from 21 in 2006 to 66 in 2008, the report said. It said that this indicates that attempts to gain political mileage from the situation of normalcy have increased by separatist elements and other like-minded political parties in the State.

The point that this limited view is missing out on is that the situation has not been fully contained and that terrorists still retain the capability to regroup should the pressure be reduced, the officer said. Referring to the recent encounter in Kupwara in which 17 terrorists and eight armymen were killed, he said: “it is a pointer towards terrorism still hidden in the State” In the case of areas in and around Bomai (Sopore) where since 2006, 40 terrorists have been killed, over 100 have been apprehended with recoveries of arms and ammunition including AK-47 rifles, 27 pistols and 345 grenades, the report said. — PTI

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