Srinagar, April 08 (KNO) : Even as the anti-militancy operations will continue during the period of parliamentary polls—April 11 to May 7, a close to 70 militants were killed were killed in the first three months of current year with Jaish-e-Muhammad suffering major dent by losing 30 militants alone including top commanders.
Security officials told KNO that primary focus had been Jaish-e-Muhammad cadre to ensure that “there was no repeat of Lethpora type suicide attack that claimed 40 lives of CRPF men on February 14.” As per the official figures in the past fort night alone, 15 militants have been killed in both, south and northern Kashmir and police claims that “all operations were intelligence input based.”
Another senior officer said that after the deadly suicide attack on the CRPF convoy at Lehtpora, Pulwama on February 14 that left 40 CRPF men dead and dozens others injured, the security grid—police, army and CRPF framed a strategy to go after the “Jaish with full strength.”
“This was to ensure that there is no repeat of Lethpora type attack,” he said. “We largely succeeded in that by killing the mastermind of Lethpora attack, Mudasir Ahmed Khan at Pinglish area Tral in Pulwam on March 11.”
A senior official said that the “complete synergy” among the security agencies has worked in generating a “specific lead about the presence of militants.” “A total of almost 70 militants were killed in the first three months of the current year. Of the 70 militants, 30 militants alone hailed from Jaish while 20 belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba and 20 from other outfits including Hizbul Mujahideen,” he said.
“Our only endeavour is and will remain during the poll period as well that while carrying out anti-militancy operations, no collateral damage takes place,” the official said. “We have carried out a major assault on Jaish to break the outfit by killing its top leadership and other ranks as well only to ensure they fail to carry out Lethpora type attacks.”
An Army officer revealed that life of militants has been reduced to three months at the most and that the militants’ especially local boys should surrender. On Sunday, the General Officer Commanding of army’s 15 Corps, Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon reiterated is appeal to the Kashmiri mothers to urge their sons to return and live a happy and peaceful life stating that “army would facilitate the rehabilitation of the youth willing to shun militancy.” He stated that his appeal to mothers had yielded positive results and many youth have returned.(KNO)