Ops to continue with vigour: Army Chief

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, February 24

A day after the killing of three soldiers, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat today made it clear that “anti-militancy operations will continue with vigour and action will be taken against those indulging in stone-throwing to disrupt such operations”.

General Rawat had rushed to Srinagar hours after the Shopian attack to assess the security situation. The Army has lost nine men, including an officer, in less than two weeks.

During two high-level meetings at the headquarters of the Army’s counter-insurgency divisions — Victor and Kilo Force — the Army Chief listened to officers engaged in anti-militancy operations.

The officers, sources said, informed the Chief about the dual challenges — one from militants and another from stone-throwers. He was also briefed about the recent four operations in which the Army had suffered casualties.

Sources said the Army Chief expressed concern over the high number of the Army casualties during these operations. “The Chief made it clear that the anti-militancy operations will continue with vigour. At the same time, he said, strict action will be taken against those who hurl stones and interfere in such operations,” a source said.

Despite General Rawat’s stern warning last week, the youth in Kashmir continue to hamper anti-militancy operations.

Meanwhile, a defence spokesman in Srinagar said the Army Chief along with Northern Command and Chinar Corps chiefs Lt Gen D Anbu and Lt Gen JS Sandhu visited Victor and Kilo Force Headquarters.

The spokesman said the Army Chief also reviewed the collaborative measures of security forces towards ensuring peace and calm in the region. He interacted with local commanders and troops and urged them to continue discharging their duties with utmost professionalism.

“Reinforcing the need to maintain high vigil, the Army Chief also discussed the issue of stone-pelting during Army operations and impressed upon all to synergise efforts with other security agencies in dealing with such situations effectively,” the spokesman said.