The Jammu and Kashmir police Saturday admitted presence of militants in Kishtwar district of Jammu region and said it has tasked its anti-militancy Special Operation Group to “track and neutralize” militants in area.
The Inspector General of Police M K Sinha of Jammu Zone madethe admission a day after two special police officers (SPOs) were injured in agun battle between police and militants, who managed to escape.
The IGP Sinha said there are reports about eight militantsbeing active in the vast area of the district and the SOG has been activated toneutralise them.
“We have activated SOG in Kishtwar after the militancyrelated incidents took place,” he told reporters.
Replying to a question on spread of militancy in Jammuregion, Sinha said “militants will keep up their designs but the police willsoon neutralise them.”
He said as and when police get information, they act quicklyas they did yesterday.
Kishtwar district, which shares its boundaries with Anantnagdistrict of South Kashmir, has seen an increase in incidents of militancyrelated in recent times.
On November 1, BJP state secretary Anil Parihar and hisbrother Ajeet were gunned down by militants in Kishtwar, while returning home.
On April 9, senior RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma andhis personal security officer were killed in firing by militants at Kishtwarhospital.
Lt Gen Singh on May 20 had said the Army will not allow thearea south of Pir Panchal to slip into terrorism and had ruled out the presenceof militants in Kishtwar belt.Lt Gen Singh said there are some reports keepcoming from various intelligence agencies regarding the presence of someterrorists south of Pir Panchal but they have not found any confirmed reportabout the presence of militants there.