Local terror recruits halved in 2019, lesser now: 15 Corps chief

NEW DELHI: With Jammu & Kashmir marking a year of revocation of Article 370, Lt Gen B S Raju, the General officer-in-command (GOC) of Srinagar-based 15 Corps, has said the situation in the valley is “stable but sensitive” amid infiltration attempts from Pakistan even as the prime goal of the security forces remains to maintain peace.
Talking exclusively to TOI ahead of the first anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, the top Army officer said local terror recruitment has dwindled in the Valley but will remain a primary concern for the forces to handle.
“Recruitment of local youth in terrorist tanzeems (outfits) had reduced by nearly half between 2018 and 2019 and the numbers have plunged further in 2020,” he said on the eve of first anniversary of reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
More than 140 terrorists in the valley have been neutralised since August 5, 2019 last year.
“Good ground intelligence from awaam (public) to the Army enabled us to carry out such operations,” he said.
Consequently, terror outfits have recorded a high rate of attrition since the leadership of nearly all such outfits has been eliminated, said Raju.
According to the Corps Commander, the past year was characterised by a renewed focus on ethical conduct and transparency in operations of the forces, keeping in line with the thrust on ‘Awaam-Army’ connect.
“The internal situation in Kashmir is stable but sensitive. Maintaining peace has been the prime goal of all the security forces, working in close synergy with each other. Also, the Awaam-Army connect has always been strong due to our ethical conduct and transparency in operations. It is an effort that has to continue” he said.
He admitted that infiltration from Pakistan continues to remain a regular affair on the Line of Control (LoC).
“With the onset of summers every year, Pakistan increases ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts. However, our strong counter infiltration grid is adequately structured and poised to defeat all such attempts.”
The officer, who earlier had a stint in Uri where he commanded a brigade responsible for guarding the LoC, added, “We have successfully thwarted many attempts this year. The occasional spurt in civilian killings is indicative of the desperation of the terrorist controllers to be in action and they are resorting to hitting soft targets among Kashmiri population.”
But he also warned that "Pakistani interference has stalled J&K economic and civil society activity for last three decades. If this issue of Pakistan interference is addressed then J&K will have opportunity to focus on the aspirations of the local people”.