LoC hot even in winter this year: Singh

LoC hot even in winter this year: Singh

SRINAGAR: Despite the all-out military offensive against militants this year, there has been no let-up in militant activity on the Line of Control (LoC) and has even increased this winter, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said.
“Launching pads across the LoC have remained active. They used to be free of militants during winter in past years,” said Singh. “Pakistan is trying its best to keep the militancy going in Jammu and Kashmir by sending in militants from across the Line of Control and the international border under the cover of ceasefire violations.”
“Normally, there would not be much activity at the launchpads during the winter months as snow would cover the passes. This winter, however, the movement at the luanchpads did not reduce,” he told reporters at a presser here.
Singh said that Pakistan also sent a drone which was seen hovering for more than 10 minutes over a BSP picket at LoC in Gagwal area of Jammu region. “The drone returned after it was attacked by our forces,” Singh said.
“The number of ceasefire violations has increased after August 5. Pakistan is trying to keep the borders hot in order to push in as many terrorists as possible. While some attempts of infiltration have been successful, many have been foiled,” he said.
Singh also said that militants have been using VPNs to access the internet to plan attacks. An example he cited was of a truck driver who was ferrying militants in Jammu region. The driver, Singh said, was keeping in contact with his bosses across the LoC through VPN-accessed internet.
“Such is the depth of reach from the LoC here,” Singh said.
The toll of militants killed this year has reached 23 in various encounters across Jammu and Kashmir. Nineteen of these militants have been killed in eight operations and four were killed in two operations in Jammu region. Singh claimed to have arrested more than 40 overground workers who were involved in facilitating militants in the valley.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.