The Army in Kashmir says that support by local population and security forces’ strategy to avoid collateral damage are the main factors for prolonging an anti-militant operation in Manigah forests of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The operation, which has so far claimed the lives of Commanding Officer of a Rashtriya Rifles unit and two holed up militants, is one of the longest standoffs in the north Kashmir region.
“During the past 15 days, at least five times contact has been established (with militants). This means they (militants) are roaming around and getting some sustenance from the villagers nearby,” lt-Gen Satish K Dua, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based XV Corps told reporters. He said the operation would continue till the militants were eliminated but refused to give any timeline.
The Army is entangled with a group of recently infiltrated militants in Manigam Haihama forests for the past more than two weeks. The Army, Police and elite Special Forces have been engaged in the operation.
lt Gen Dua said that the operation was taking longer than expected because of the tough terrain in the area. “It is vast area and tough terrain with rivulets and ridges. The search operation is conducted area wise and it takes time to senitise areas. Secondly, we don’t want any collateral damage during the ongoing operation”, he said.
He said Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were being used for surveillance to track the movement of militants. He said the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was a living threat and a cause of concern. “All security and Intelligence agencies are monitoring it”, he said.
On his perception over the gathering of tens of thousands of people over the funerals of slain militants especially to that of Pakistani lashkar commander Abu Qasim he said he would not comment over the trend as an army officer. “India is a democratic country”, he said adding, “As a concerned citizen it (huge gatherings on militants’ funerals) is a cause of concern”, he said.
Commenting on recent attack on Army in Tangdhar he said, the militants were carrying maps of the target. He confirmed that the recoveries from slain militants indicated they belonged to Afzal Guru squard of Jaish-e-Muhammad.