2018 remarkable year for Army: Lt Gen Ranbir Singh

Tribune News Service/PTI

Jammu, January 17

Describing 2018 as a “remarkable” year for the Army as it neutralised a number of militants, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, Northern Command chief, on Thursday said the forces had given a befitting reply to the Pakistan army along Line of Control (LoC) whenever there were instances of any ceasefire violation or sniper firing.

The Northern Command chief said more than 250 militants were killed, 54 arrested and four others surrendered in the Kashmir valley.

“In the past 10 years, the Army, along with other forces, has killed many militants while many have surrendered under pressure,” Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said.

He also said the Army was replying befittingly to Pakistani aggression along the LoC. “Our operation has been successful. We have been able to eliminate a number of militants, who were targeting security forces and civilians. We have foiled their designs,” he said.

Lt Gen Ranbir Singh was addressing the media after inaugurating the Kalai Bridge constructed by the Border Roads Organisation.

The bridge spans over the Suran river and connects the Kalai area to the Chandak area in Poonch district.

A great year if no youth joins militancy: Omar

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday questioned Army officials boasting about the number of militants killed in the state last year, saying it would have been a “great year” if no youth had joined militancy.“I beg to differ, a great year would be one in which no young man would join militancy, no terrorists would be killed and no security personnel would lose their lives in encounters. The compulsion of killing militants/terrorists shouldn’t be treated as a cause for celebration,” Omar wrote on Twitter.