SRINAGAR: The four terrorists killed in an encounter with security forces in the Jammu region were heading to the Kashmir Valley to disrupt the District Development Council (DDC) elections scheduled for later this month, as Pakistan has been trying to cause trouble in the political process. said a senior police officer here Thursday.
Four suspected Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists were killed in the encounter near the toll plaza in the Ban de Nagrota on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway this morning.
In recent days, Pakistan has increased attempts to infiltrate terrorists on this side and disrupt the elections in which the process is taking place. In this context, Jammu Police and the security forces have done a good job neutralizing four Pakistanis (terrorists). Their objective (of the terrorists) was to come to Kashmir to disrupt the electoral process, Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The IGP said there were apprehensions of terrorists targeting elections, but security forces were fully prepared to deal with the situation.
Whether there are elections or August 15 or January 26 or even a VIP visit, the arrests are always there, but we are fully prepared … We are giving security to the candidates and they have started to go out into the field to do campaign since yesterday and there is nothing to fear, he said.
Kumar, however, said that providing security for every candidate participating in the elections, which begin on November 28, was difficult.
Providing security for each candidate is difficult. We are providing them with collective security and they are being placed in safe areas. Whenever a candidate goes out to campaign, we provide him with a double escort and secure the area for him to campaign, he said when asked that the candidates claimed they had not been provided with security.
In a question about the number of terrorists waiting at the launch pads through the Line of Control (LoC) to infiltrate this side, the IGP said there were inputs that there were about 250 terrorists there, but the security forces they were on the alert to thwart Pakistani designs. Other security forces have already given figures that between 200 and 250 terrorists are ready to infiltrate, but the security forces are on the alert. Pakistan’s effort is to push more terrorists to this side, but security forces are prepared to thwart their plans, he said.
Asked about Wednesday’s grenade attack in the Kakapora area of southern Kashmir Pulwama DistrictKumar said police have identified the militant behind the incident.
It was an unfortunate incident. The goal was CRPF and the police, but 12 civilians were injured, of whom four were rushed to a Srinagar hospital, but their condition is stable. “We have identified the militant who threw the grenade and we are pursuing him and will arrest him soon,” he said.
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