JAMMU: Militant outfits based in Pakistan want to disrupt the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls by “desperately” trying to push their cadre into the Indian side to carry out terror activities, an army official has said.
“They want to disrupt the Assembly elections in the State as they know that a large number of their cadre has already been eliminated. So to reinforce their numbers, they are desperately trying to infiltrate more people into the State,” Udhampur based Defense Spokesman Col S.D Goswami told PTI.
Due to the unprecedented floods in the State, which has caused massive damage to the infrastructure, there was speculation in the political circles that the Assembly elections could be postponed.
Goswami said frequent ceasefire violations by militant outfits along the Line of Control and International Border showed that they wanted to reinforce their numbers in the Valley before the polls are held.
“In view of the Assembly elections, the militant leadership from across the border want to push in large number of terrorists into our side, that is why there has been an increase in the number of ceasefire violations,” Goswami said.
The army spokesperson said militants are desperate to infiltrate before snowfall in the higher reaches during winter season which closes all mountainous passes, making it difficult for them to pass into our territory.
“There is a presence of robust counter infiltration grid on the LoC and the snowfall during the upcoming winter would close the mountainous passes, thus making infiltration more difficult.
“Militants are desperate to infiltrate before these passes close, hence increase in the incidents of cross border firing,” Goswami said.
He also noted that another reason for such attempts by militants could be that their outfits in the Valley are devoid of a leader.
“On specific information and surgical operations carried out with the help of local police we have successfully eliminated a large number of terrorists in the Valley. Some of the militant outfits have been rendered leaderless, so to fill in the gap they want to push in more terrorists into our side,” Goswami said.
According to intelligence sources, a large number of terrorist training camps across the LoC are still active and out of 40 militant launching pads on the other side of the LoC, 24 were made operational.
“The terrorist outfits continue to get support from the Pakistan Army as without the support and knowledge of the Pakistani Army and the Pakistani Rangers, it is not possible to carry out such attempts,” a senior intelligence officer told PTI on condition of anonymity.
It may be recalled that the General Officer in Commanding of the Srinagar based 15 Corps, Gen Subrata Saha had said last month that around 200 heavily armed militants were waiting in various launching pads across the LoC to infiltrate into the Indian side.
“Strict vigil is being maintained along the border and counter infiltration measures have been adopted by the army.
The counter infiltration grid has been further strengthened.
Infiltration attempts however continue to take place,” Goswami said.
He, however, said that in the hinterland, militants are being successfully targeted and eliminated. “In the month of September we eliminated 14 terrorists and arrested six others,” he said. (PTI)