‘Infiltration down, 26 local youth returned home’
Handwara, (Kupwara), Aug 20: Describing the killing of two Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militants, including a top commander involved in the murder of six CRPF personnel, as major success for security forces, Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh on Thursday said majority leadership of militant outfits in Kashmir has been eliminated.
“Security forces during different Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) eliminated majority leadership of militant organizations,” the DGP said adding during the past seven months as many as 26 top commanders were gunned down in the Valley.
“The infiltration from across the Line of Control has come down mainly due to strict vigil being maintained by alert security forces though Pak Army has made repeated attempts to send militants into this side under the cover of darkness,” DGP Singh told reporters here in north Kashmir, a day after Handwara encounter in which two LeT militants were killed.
He said security forces killed two LeT militants, including a top listed commander Naseer uddin Lone who was operating with different code names in the north Kashmir. Describing the killing of Naseer a major success, DGP said he was a trained sharp shooter. He said Naseer was involved in killing of CRPF personnel at two different places in north Kashmir. Naseer was involved in killing three CRPF men at Sopore on April 18, 2020 and 3 CRPF personnel at Handwara on May 4, 2020.
The J&K Police Chief said, “Naseer after the killing of Sajad alias Haider, was planning a major militant strike in north Kashmir.”
He said during the past four days, security forces killed four A and A-Plus category militants in three different encounters. The slain category militants were among 10 to 20 top listed militants in the valley.
Singh said with the killing of Naseer, security forces have gunned down 26 top commanders of different militant organization operating in the valley during the past seven months thus breaking the leadership structure of militants in Kashmir.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) and senior Army officers present on the occasion said a rifle which was snatched by Naseer from a CRPF man has also been recovered.
Youth who had joined militancy brought back
The number of local youths joining militancy has also witnessed decrease because of the motivation by the police and people, DGP said adding this year 26 youths, who had joined militant outfits have shunned the path of violence and joined the mainstream to lead a normal and peaceful life.
DGP Singh said that with the active support of locals, 16 youths were brought back after they joined militancy this year. We are providing counseling and all other help to lead a normal life in the society.
Singh efforts will continue to bring back the youths who had gone astray in the valley. However, he said, militant families will not be harassed.
Meanwhile, an Army officer said LeT militant Aquib who was arrested recently in Bandipora also wanted to return after appeal by family members. He appealed to parents and other family members to motivate their wards, who had joined the militancy, to return back as violence will lead them nowhere.
