Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane said on Saturday that terrorists are discovering new ways to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir to “disrupt normal democratic processes.” Naravane, who did not name Pakistan, stressed that despite continued efforts being made to ensure stability on the Union’s territory, terrorism remains a serious threat.
“With the current situation on our western borders, terrorism remains a serious threat, and that does not diminish despite all the efforts made. Terrorists desperately trying to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir to disrupt normal democratic processes, ”General Naravane said, according to the ANI news agency.
The Naravane Army Chief’s comments came at a time when Jammu and Kashmir is holding its first elections following the repeal of Article 370. The Union Territory held the first phase of the inaugural elections for the Development Councils of District (DDC) on Saturday, where it registered almost 52% electoral participation. According to PTI, except for a small stone-throwing incident in Kulgam, the polls were carried out peacefully.
The army chief also said that terrorists are finding new means to enter India and due to increasing snow levels they are finding it difficult to enter from northern regions and are now trying to enter India from southern regions from the western border. . “With the onset of winters, attempts are being made to infiltrate before the passes close and snow levels increase. This is why they have started to move south and are now trying to infiltrate through lower regions, including tunnels across the international border, ”ANI said.
Security forces in the last three months have detected two sophisticated tunnels in the Samba sector of Jammu. The first tunnel was discovered on August 29 and the second was discovered by the Border Security Force (BSF) last week after four terrorists were killed in Ban Toll Plaza during a shooting near the town of Jammu in Nagrota. BSF has also launched an anti-tunneling campaign across the 3,300 km long international border to stop cross-border infiltration and smuggling of drugs, weapons and ammunition.
A counterinsurgency officer told HT on Tuesday that despite an agreement between Indian and Pakistani border security personnel to cut long grass on both sides of their respective borders, Pakistani border security personnel continue to use the grass. long as cover to ship drugs. , terrorist items and weapons and ammunition to India.
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