The Army has bolstered the strength of troops engaged in anti-terrorist operations in Kashmir valley by deploying four additional battalions (one battalion has 1,000 soldiers). In an effort to supplement its efforts, the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) has also pressed into service 50 additional companies (one company comprises 100 personnel) in vulnerable districts of South Kashmir. The main objective of increasing troops is to increase the outreach of security forces in the hinterland and deny militants freedom of movement.
Since the tempo of anti-militancy operations has picked up in the last few weeks, the security forces are keen to sustain the pace and therefore decided last week to have more troops in the hinterland besides guarding the crucial National Highway(NH)-44 which links Kashmir with the rest of the country, sources said here on Sunday.
While two Army battalions will provide security umbrella for its convoys besides normal traffic on the NH-44, two other battalions have fanned out in the interiors of restive South Kashmir, they said. This deployment is in addition to ten battalions already engaged in anti-terrorist operations in the Kashmir valley, officials said.
As the density of troops has increased, the flow of real time intelligence about militants has improved and "hopefully in the next one fortnight encounters with ultras will also go up as they will be forced to come of hiding due to pressure," sources said.
They also said more than 135 terrorists were killed this year with majority of accounted for in South Kashmir in the last two months due to sustained operations. With the increase in number of troops since last week, the security forces are anticipating the number of terrorists nabbed or killed will go up significantly, officials said.
As regards deployment of troops on the NH-44, they said this measure was taken to ensure that winter stocking of Army posts located in upper reaches of ladakh besides those deployed on the line of Control(lOC) goes on unhindered. Stocking includes replenishing fuel and ammunition besides food for the winter months. Army convoys have to finish this annual exercise starting from June onwards till November end before snow blocks vital passes like Zojila connecting Kashmir valley with Kargil and ladakh.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said in Mumbai on Sunday security forces with their resolute action had established dominance over terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir and the Centre was firm that armed militancy must end in the border state.
He said the Kashmir issue had become complicated because of cross-border support to terrorists and also because local groups. "The Kashmir issue had become complicated because of cross-border support (to terrorism) and (also) our own groups supporting the armed militants. Mass civil protests were seen in the form of stone- pelting and sometimes this was used to help terrorists escape," he said.
Jaitley was speaking at a function organised by Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar. He spoke on the topic 'New India Pledge'. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present on the occasion.