Regular infiltration attempts on Line of Control: Army

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, August 2

The Army on Friday said 83 per cent of youth who take up arms have had a history of stone-throwing.

Chinar Corps commander Lt Gen KJS Dhillon while addressing a media conference which was also attended by J&K Police chief Dilbag Singh, Special DG CRPF (J&K) Zulfiqar Hassan and IGP (Kashmir) SP Pani, said they had carried an in-depth analysis of Kashmir militancy for the past 18 months.

He said seven per cent of the youth who picked up arms were killed in first 10 days. “Nearly 83 per cent of the youth who take up arms have had a history of stone-throwing. The mothers of the militants should listen carefully. If your son is throwing stones for Rs 500, he is tomorrow’s terrorist,” he said, adding the shelf life of the militants was very less.

15 Corps Commander, Lt Gen K J S Dhillon and DGP Dilbag Singh holding joint press conference

“About I7 per cent of terrorists die in 10 days after joining militancy. Nine per cent die in one month, 17 per cent in three months and 36 per cent in six months,” he said. “This is the shelf life of terrorist who take weapon . So mothers of a stone throwers should be clear if they don’t stop their child from picking up arms the chances are that he will get killed in one year.”

The Corps commander said infiltration from Pakistan side was attempted regularly.

“We have been having regular contact on the Line of Control (LoC) whereby the infiltration bids by the Pakistan army and terrorists is being foiled,” he said, adding that situation on the LoC was under control.

On the additional deployment of forces, the DGP said the forces were being deployed to replace the “fatigued” forces that were deployed here since panchayat polls last year.

Rise in IED threat 

IGP (Kashmir) SP Pani said the IED threat had been more this year. “This year more than 10 serious IED attempts were made by militants at different places in the Valley, mainly in Pulwama and Shopian districts. Now the trend is shifting to other districts in south Kashmir,” Pani said.