Militants may disturb Amarnath yatra: Army

Shyam Sood

Jhangar (Rajouri), July 3

The GOC of White Knight Corps (16 Corps), Lt Gen KH Singh, today said the possibilities of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) attack on the Line of Control and disturbances during the ongoing Amarnath yatra by militants could not be ruled out.

He was speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the Jhangar Day celebrations.

“Credible inputs from across the border suggest that anti-national elements may attempt to disturb the Amarnath yatra and BAT attack on the LoC or firing at soldiers may take place,” he said.

He said terrorist infrastructure, training camps and launching pads were still operational on the other side of the LoC in PoK and militants had been placed in launching pads for pushing them into the Indian territory.

When asked about the presence of ISIS in PoK, Lt Gen KH Singh said, “Whatever inputs the Army has, the ISIS has not yet taken off in a major way on the other side in PoK. However, they are definitely trying to get a foothold there, but the Indian Army is fully prepared to give a befitting reply to any nefarious designs.”

On the present situation on the LoC, he said it was calm so far and the number of ceasefire violations this year as compared to last year was very less.

But intelligence inputs suggest that terrorists in nexus with their mentors were planning to infiltrate into the Indian territory to create trouble during the ongoing Amarnath yatra, he added.

“We are also aware that the terrorists in cooperation with certain elements on the other side of the border are trying to create tension here, like by carrying out certain operations by the Border Action Team (BAT) and resort to firing at our forces,” he said.

He assured the people of the state that the Army was fully prepared and would ensure that nefarious designs of the adversary and elements inimical to the country were defeated fair and square.

When asked about possible successful infiltration attempt by two groups of terrorists between Loonawali and Anita forward posts (in the Sabjian area in Poonch district) last month, he said, “The Multi Agency Centre has not confirmed any report about any such infiltration. I am confident that it would be very difficult for the terrorists to infiltrate. However, we will recheck this issue.”

On family members of about 200 youths (militants went to PoK for arms training from Mendhar in Poonch district), who have approached the Army units operating in the area for their safe return, he said the Army would not allow them to come via LoC for surrender.

“The government has formulated a rehabilitation policy. The Army’s role is limited only to LoC areas. We will suggest them to come via four officially identified routes (Chakan-da-Bagh in Poonch, Salamabad in Baramulla, Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi and Wagah-Attari in Punjab),” said Lt Gen KH Singh.