40 infiltrating terrorists killed this year along LoC: DGP Dilbagh Singh

Visits Kupwara, chairs joint security review meeting; visits forward areas along LoC; says have succeeded to counter narco-smuggling

Kupwara, Oct 26  : Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh Thursday said that this year 40 infiltrating terrorists were killed along the Line of Control (LoC) while the counter infiltration grid was robust.

As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), during the visit, the DGP chaired a crucial joint security review meeting at 28 Div Zangli along with the Army and other security officers. “Following the joint review meeting, he headed towards forward areas on Line of Control (LoC) as part of the security review.”

Later talking to reporters, the DGP said that this year, 40 infiltrating terrorists were killed along the LoC alone. “Those who managed to sneak into this side were eliminated in different operations in the hinterland.  Counter-militant operations will continue,” he said.

“Since the border areas on the other side of the LoC have a bad record for many reasons. For a very long time militant training camps, and launching pads have been active.  About 16 active launching pads are located on the other side of the border in this sector in PoK.  Activities to infiltrate more infiltrators, push weapons and narco smuggling is a constant tool from another side of the border,” he said.

The DGP said that Kupwara police had to act tough against those involved in acts of arms and narcotics smuggling from border areas. “We have so far been very successful in combating narcotics and weapon smuggling,” he said.

About infiltration, the police chief said that infiltration bids continue to happen.  “These are continuous attempts from the other side of the border but active vigil and cooperation of joint security forces including intelligence agencies all are timely countered.  Infiltration attempts will happen in the future as well given the onset of snowfall. Infiltrators are pushed before snowfall given the accumulation and challenging conditions,” the J&K DGP said.

Regarding the number of active militants in the region, the J&K DGP said that the number of active militants has significantly come down to record numbers compared to previous figures.

“Security forces have been able to achieve success in eliminating the number of active militants. With the killing of militants, people have been able to live happily in peace. We believe in peace and both security forces and administration have been able to achieve it so far.  Numbers aren’t that high and whatever the number is it will also come down,” he said.

Asked about the missing SPO in Sopore, the DGP said that the matter is being verified.

For many years, the DGP said that there has been a constant strategy from the neighboring country to push a maximum number of infiltrators from their launch pads ahead of the snow accumulation in border areas.

“These attempts take place in border areas like Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu division. Similarly in Kashmir division border areas of Kupwara and Baramulla, all such attempts were foiled in the past and counter-operations will continue in future as well.  Even this year, large groups of infiltrators were killed along LoC.”—(KNO)