Irfan A Mir
Pulwama, Oct 13 (KNS): Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh on Tuesday said during faceoff between security forces and militants, the later is being given every opportunity to surrender before taking a decisive action. He termed the killing of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Zahid Tiger in a recent gunfight in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district a “big success” for security forces.
According to Kashmir News Service (KNS), DGP said that there is no discrimination in the policy as recently security forces managed to save a life of a newly recruited militant in Dadoora Pulwama. DGP was addressing a press conference in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district after taking stock of security situation in the district.
“There were three militants trapped and all were asked to surrender. Two of them fired upon forces which were retaliated in which two militants were killed. The slain were Zahid Tiger while another one was a native of Pakistan”, DGP who was flanked by several officers told reporters.
Police chief said that killing of Zahid Tiger was a “big success” for security forces and added during the exchange of fire, forces managed to save the life of a newly recruited militant from Doda district of Jammu.
When asked about active foreign militants in south Kashmir areas, the DGP said that many Lashkar militants from Pakistan are still active in south Kashmir. “In 2020 we carried out several anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir in which 24 Pakistani militants were killed who were associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba”, DGP said and added there presence was threat to forces as well as civilians.
DGP said that security forces will leave no stone unturned to frustrate the designs of militants. “We will not allow militants to get succeed in their designs. Efforts are on to kill the remaining foreign militants in valley”, he said.
When asked about the frequent militant attacks on highway, DGP said that for the movement of 0.1 percent militants, security forces can’t block the road for rest of 99.99 percent civilians.
“Whenever inputs come, we conducted frisking of particular vehicle with an aim to inflict no harm to public movement. At times we establish contact with militants during frisking as seen in Nagrota this year where ammunition was also recovered”, DGP said.
He also said that infiltration at Line of Control (LoC) has witnessed a decline this year as compare to past. (KNS)