In a candid admission of ground realities, a top Army officer in Kashmir said normalcy in the embattled region is a distant reality and presently there is no room for the security forces to roam around without weapons.
“Time has not come yet for the security forces to do normal duty or move freely without arms (in Kashmir),” lt Gen Sabrata Saha, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based XV Corps told reporters on sidelines of a relief camp organised by the Army to help destitute people and flood-affected families and institutions.
He was responding to the incident of killing three unarmed policemen by unknown militants in Shopian district of south Kashmir on April 6.
He said the security forces must take all precautionary measures while doing normal duty. “We learn from every incident and the Amchipora Shopian incident also taught us a lesson. The three policemen had gone to the village to investigate a matter related to land dispute but the militants took advantage and attacked them,” he said adding the Army would investigate the incident and ensure the assailants would be brought to book. He said around 200 militants are still active in Kashmir.
He said the Army has its viewpoint on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, which is being discussed between the Central and the State Governments. Gen Saha contradicted the view that the militancy is being revived in Kashmir. He said the militants have never been completely decimated, therefore, the question of revival does not ever arise.
“Operations against the militants are going on and security agencies in recent past have managed to neutralise the top-ranked militant commanders,” he said while appreciating the effective Intelleigence grid of the security forces.
He expressed apprehensions that militants would intensify infiltration attempts through traditional routes along the line of Control.
“Snow has started melting on the loC. There is apprehension that militants may try to sneak into our territory,” he said.
The function had been organised to provide relief material to destitute, special persons, flood-affected families and institutions. In his speech Gen Saha said that youth in Kashmir were inclined to join the Indian Army.
He cited the example of lt. Danish Ali Rather from north Kashmir’s Baramulla district who was commissioned into the army last year. “like lt Rather many other Kashmiri youngsters are eager to join the Army. We are training such youngsters for their bright future,” he said.
A senior Congress leader farooq Andrabi who also owns a vernacular newspaper praised the efforts of Army through rescue, relief and humanitarian interventions. He said that he is a witness to how much people of Kashmir have moved closer to Army. He narrated incidents where people were openly acknowledging positive role of Army and its leadership.