Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh on Wednesday said that they are hopeful that US President Donald Trump’s visit to India will pass off peacefully.
“Two foreign delegations have visited Kashmir and they witnessed normalcy in the Valley,” Singh said at a press conference in Srinagar.
“There are some apprehensions, like always, militants are still present in good numbers, we hope visit passes off peacefully, we have security arrangements in place.”
On the use of Internet VPN, he said they are aware that people are taking advantage of the loopholes. “We know it is being used despite instructions. But there is a line between use and misuse,” he said adding, “Government is keeping surveillance on the misuse of the Internet.”
He said the home department has issued an order banning social media in Kashmir. “Some are using social media and instigating militants. We have proof of that,” he said.
Singh said if the situation improves further, relaxation in the use of the Internet can be considered.
He said their main priority is that those instigating militants are checked.
On the deferment of the Panchayat elections, the top J&K cop said it is the government’s decision and there must be solid grounds for doing that.
On ceasefire violations, he said there are a large number of terrorists at the launch pads waiting for infiltration.
“All those launch pads remained active this year despite snow to infiltrate whenever there is an opportunity,” he said.
“On Tuesday, a drone from Pakistan crossed into India in Kathua and returned after the BSF opened fire,” he said.
Singh said 23 militants, 19 in Kashmir, and four in Jammu, have been killed in various anti-terror operations this year so far.
He said a total of 10 anti-terror operations have been carried out this year across J&K during which there was no collateral damage.
“Several terror modules have been busted in 2020 and 40 overground workers of militants were arrested,” he said.
He added that eight youths who joined militancy in 2020 have shunned violence and returned to the mainstream. “They have been reunited with their families.”
Singh said the three militants killed in the encounter on Wednesday morning belonged to the Hizbul Mujahideen. They have been identified as Jehangir Wani, Raja Maqbool and Uzair Bhat. Jehangir was the dreaded militant who was involved in the killing of two civilians.
“Jehangir was involved in eight acts of terror including attacks on police and army,” he said. “After the abrogation of Article 370 he set on fire a chemist shop, burnt a truck and put up inflammatory posters.”
He had also set fire to a mosque at Tral, Singh said.
‘Pak Using Drones For Surveillance’
Asserting that there was no letup in ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Wednesday said launching pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) remained loaded with militants even during winter.
The DGP said a Pakistani drone on Tuesday entered Indian Territory at Kathua in Jammu and hovered over a BSF post for about 10 to 11 minutes before action by soldiers forced it to go back.
Mr Singh said a huge number of militants are waiting on launching pads in POK to infiltrate into this side. However, he said troops are alert and prepared to foil any attempts by militants to sneak into this side to create disturbance.
“We have noticed another important thing this winter. The launching pads which militants used to desert during winters following snowfall remained active in Keran and Karnah sector in north Kashmir district of Kupwara. These launching pads during this winter remained active. The activities on the other side of LoC, which used to come down during winter, also remained high as compared to previous years,” he said.
He said the intention of keeping these launching pads active even during winters was to sneak in militants into this side whenever it was possible.
“Even yesterday, a Pakistani drone entered the Indian Territory at Kathua in Jammu. The drone hovered over a BSF post for about 10 to 11 minutes. It was only after our troops fired at it that the drone was pulled back by Pakistan into its own territory. Such activities are going on along LoC on regular basis,” the DGP said.
He said asserted that ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) has continued from some time now as Pakistan wants to keep the militancy going in J&K. “The ceasefire violation has increased many folds and there is no letup in the situation. Few days back a civilian and a soldier were killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Rajori district of Jammu,” he added.
He said it is an attempt by Pakistan to keep the LoC active and volatile. “Pakistan is also violating ceasefire to help militants to infiltrate into this side,” he said.
The DGP said some of infiltration attempts by militants succeeded. “Three militants killed in Nagrota in Jammu had infiltrated from Pakistan. The driver and conductor who were ferrying the militants were caught alive. The duo has been handed over to NIA for questioning,” he said.
