Lieutenant General Ranbir Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Udhampur-based Northern Command, on Saturday said that more than 225 militants have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year, attributing the success of operations to “local information”.
The commander claimed that initiatives taken by the government and forces had resulted in a decline in militancy as well as a drop in the number of “local youths being radicalised”.
“Our operations are carried out in a very professional manner,” Lt Gen Ranbir Singh told reporters in Kapurthala, Punjab, on the sidelines of his visit to the Sainik School, his alma mater.
“More importantly these successful operations are possible only because information regarding the movement of militants is now coming from local population, which is a very positive sign and indicates the decline of militancy,” Lt Gen Singh said. “More than the number of militants killed, information from locals is a much encouraging and positive sign.” He added: “Pakistan keep pushing more number of militants in Jammu and Kashmir but our resolve is very clear that as long as there are militants moving around they shall not be provided any space to carry out their activities at their will. We will ensure that peace and stability is maintained in Jammu and Kashmir.”
On “radicalization”, Lt Gen Singh said, “Army would not allow radicalisation of local youth in the state.”
“We don’t let radicalisation take form in a stronger manner. All initiatives by the government and security forces are paying rich dividends. There is a relative decline in the number of local youth joining militancy during the past couple of months and that shows there is relative reduction in radicalisation,” he said.
Gen Singh said a “decline in radicalisation is one of the reasons for stable situation in J&K” and in case any untoward thing happens, the “army acts swiftly and ensures peace, stability and security”.
Asked about the debate on “surgical strikes” India claimed it carried out inside Pakistani territory last year, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, who was then Director General Military Operations, said, “It is because of surgical strike that India has been able to curb militancy to great extent.” “Surgical strike is one of the options available with the army. It had a positive effect on the country. We’ve been able to curb militancy to a great extent,” Gen Singh claimed while responding to Lt General (retired) DS Hooda’s opinion that surgical strike was overhyped and politicised. Singh said the neighbouring country was trying to spread militancy beyond Kashmir in India. The army is taking all measures to arrest the spread of militancy, he said.
He lauded the Kartarpur Corridor, which will connect Dera Baba Nanak in India’s Gurdaspur district with Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib Narowal in Pakistan. “It is a good thing as it will encourage people to people contact but as far as Line of Control (LoC) is concerned, if infiltrators tried to enter into Jammu and Kashmir they will have to face death,” he said. He also said the army was giving a befitting response to Pakistani snipers. “Army has a number of options to deal with adversary along the LoC. We use an option according to the demands of the situation and time to give a befitting reply to any misadventure,” he added.