Greater Kashmir report
Over 960 militants and 413 security personnel have been killed in Jammu and Kashmir in the last five years, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
He said security forces were taking proactive action against militants, pursuant to the government’s zero tolerance policy towards militancy.
Due to concerted and synergised efforts of security forces, 963 militants have been killed in the state of Jammu and Kashmir since 2014 till June 2019. “However, during these operations, 413 security forces personnel have also lost their lives,” Reddy said, replying to a written question.
G Kishan Reddy also told the Lok Sabha that nearly 400 militants infiltrated into Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years and 126 of them have been killed by security forces,
“Net infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir has reduced by 43 per cent in first half of the year over the corresponding period of 2018,” he added.
Reddy said the government of India has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain cross-border infiltration.
This includes multi-tiered deployment along the International Border/Line of Control, border fencing, improved intelligence and operational coordination, equipping security forces with advanced weaponry and taking pro-active action against infiltrators, he said.
In the latest encounter on Wednesdaymorning, Jammu and Kashmir Police killed Adnan Channa, a native of Baramulla in gunfight with the security forces in Sopore area of Baramulla district of north Kashmir .
Police claimed that Adnan was involved in killing of civilian Arjumand Bhat and was affiliated with Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT)
Restrictions on Martyrs’ day
Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Srinagar city on Saturday to thwart separatist called protests in connection with the Martyrs Day even as the complete shutdown was observed across Kashmir.
The shutdown call was given by separatists to remember 22 Kashmiris, who were gunned down by the army of autocratic Dogra ruler after the people rose against Maharaja’s rule for their rights on July 13, 1931.
Shops, public transport and other businesses remained closed in Srinagar and many other towns in the Valley. Heavy deployments of security forces have been made to maintain law and order in Srinagar and other places in the valley.
July 13 is being observed as Martyrs Day in Kashmir officially since the autocratic Dogra rule ended in 1947.
While the separatist leadership is prevented from holding a rally on this day, the heads of the local government visit the graveyard and offer tributes to the martyrs.
The Kashmir state government also observes Martyrs’ Day and has declared July 13 a holiday.
Advisor to the governor, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai, politicians and top officers of the civil administration paid floral tributes to July 13 martyrs in Srinagar. Ganai who was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan offered prayers at the graves of the martyrs at the shrine of Naqshband Sahib in Nowhatta early morning.
However, like the previous years, the function was given a miss by the BJP leaders, who consider it as a “black day.”
Meanwhile, the Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Saturday with no pilgrim allowed to move towards the Valley from Jammu due to shut down, police said.
Taking stock of the law and order situation because the protest shutdown called by the separatists t, movement of the pilgrims from Jammu to Srinagar will remain suspended today,” police sources said.
Since the annual pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine started on July 1, over 1.50 lakh pilgrims have performed the Yatra so far.
BJP oppose talks with Hurriyat
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday said that talks with Hurriyat leaders were not possible as they are not the real stakeholders of Kashmir.
BJP’s State General Secretary (Organization), Ashok Koul said that the talks should and will be held on Kashmir but only with those who are the real stakeholders of Kashmir.
“Hurriyat is not any stakeholder as their kith and kin are enjoying outside but those who have suffered and lost their properties including youth, traders and others are the real stakeholders and talks with them will be held,” Koul said.
