Militants Have Become More Daring: DGP

Says, Geelani Free, Has No Support Base 

SRINAGAR: Director General of Police Ashok Prasad Friday said that latest developments along the Line of Control are the source of concern and they are minutely assessing the situation and trying to figure out whether the strategy adopted by militants are short or long term.

“As per intelligence reports external forces have increased the funding of separatist leaders and they are getting huge amounts from across the border while the militants along the Line of Control have become more aggressive now which is a cause of worry for us,” Prasad told Srinagar based news gathering agency CNS adding that such changes can create problems for us in future.

He said militants have changed their strategy now and instead of infiltrating during the dead of night, they have started sneaking into our side openly and frequently they resort to heavy firing on Indian posts. “Militants have changed their strategy and we are keenly assessing the situation. As per our reports there are at least 400 militants keen to infiltrate into Kashmir Valley,” Prasad said.

DGP said that at least 80 militants have managed to infiltrate successfully in recent times and they are present in different parts of Kashmir Valley. “Last year as per intelligence reports, this number was 120 but this year it diminished to 80. There is no need to panic as police and security agencies have ability to neutralize them,” he said.

Prasad said that although the number of militants present in Valley is about 180 but, “only 7 to 8 militant leaders of Hizbul Mujhideen are enthusiastically active in north and south Kashmir. Once these 7 to 8 militants are neutralized, militancy would almost disappear and even stray attacks on security and police personnel would stop,” he said.

According to Prasad, militants of Hizb are present in Sopore area while in south Kashmir a group of Lashkar-e-Taiba headed by commander Qasim is active. 

“Militants in Lolab, Rajwar and Tral are leaderless and no threat to us,” he said adding that militants have started targeting policemen and security personnel to demoralize them.

Ashok Prasad said that after failing to achieve their objective in attacking Sarpanchs and Panchs, militants changed their strategy and they have two objectives behind targeting security personnel, one to demoralize them and the secondly they want them to over react after every attack. “We are consciously avoiding both and are not giving them open hand,” he said.

He said we are following three fold-strategy which includes minimum visibility of security personnel, low profile and zero collateral. “If this policy could be reversed, militancy would come down to zero level but common people would feel the burnt which we don’t like,” he said.

While replying to a question, Ashok Prasad said that he has not placed Syed Ali Geealni under house arrest. “It is Code of Criminal Procedure which has imposed restrictions on Geelani. Geelani is free to offer Friday prayers at Hyderpora Masjid but he always insists that he would offer prayers at those places where chances of violence are maximum.

“Geelani should contest elections and prove his representative character. Geealni and other separatist leaders have no base in Kashmir and they knew it well they would not be able to make it if they contest elections,” he claimed. CNS

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