Constant endeavour from across LoC to disturb peace in Kashmir: Indian Army official

A SENIOR official of the Indian Army on Friday (27) said there is a constant endeavour from across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan to disturb peace and vitiate the security environment in Jammu and Kashmir claiming normalcy has not gone down well with the inimical elements.

Addressing a press conference on Operation Shikanja launched along the LoC in Machil sector in north Kashmir's Kupwara, where five militants were killed on Thursday (26) while trying to infiltrate, General Officer Commanding or GOC (Vajr Division) Major General Girish Kalia said the security forces are committed to defeat any attempt of the enemy to disrupt the security situation in the Union territory.

"Normalcy and prosperity in Kashmir have not gone down well with the inimical elements. That is why there is a constant endeavour from across the LoC to disturb peace and vitiate the security environment in J-K," Maj Gen Kalia told reporters at Kupwara.

"In the last eight months, we have had 10 such attempts in our divisional area of responsibility, which have resulted in the elimination of 27 terrorists, and recovery of a large quantity of war-like stores," he said.

The GOC said the security forces have also recovered a huge quantity of narcotics which establishes a deep nexus between defence establishments in Pakistan and terrorist groups. They are all determined to create disturbance in the valley and impact the future generations in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

Maj Gen Kalia said the security forces are working in complete synergy and are committed to defeat any attempt of the enemy to disrupt the security situation in the Kashmir valley with firm resoluteness and steadfast commitment. Colonel Rajat Birman, commanding officer of the 56 Rashtrya Rifles unit which is involved in the anti-infiltration operation, gave details about the operation. He said based on specific intelligence input regarding an infiltration attempt by a group of foreign terrorists, a joint operation was launched in the Machil sector along the LoC on the night of October 25-26.

"Multiple ambushes were laid by security forces ahead of the anti-infiltration fence along the LoC. The area is thickly forested with dense foliage. Taking advantage of difficult terrain and dense vegetation, a group of five terrorists infiltrated from across the LoC," he said.

On October 26, around 1010 hours, the infiltrating terrorists were intercepted by alert troops. The terrorist opened fire and attempted to flee. In the intense firefight that ensued and continued through the day, the troops employed modern surveillance devices and quadcopters to locate the terrorists in the difficult terrain, he said.

(With PTI inputs)