Srinagar, June 21: The General Officer Commanding of Army's Kilo Force, H S Sahi on Monday appealed to the local boys, who have picked up guns to shun the gun culture and return to national mainstream or else met the fate of those who were killed in Sopore encounter last night.
Addressing a press conference alongside J&K Police DG Dilbag Singh and IGP Kashmir Zone Police, Vijay Kumar, GOC said that he would like to appeal to the local boys, who have picked up guns, to return to the mainstream.
"We have also earlier appealed them that if they want to return to the mainstream, we facilitate them. They should shun the gun culture and join the national mainstream. If they do not wish to return to the mainstream, I assure that they will meet the same fate as, which was in the store for three militants killed in yesterday's encounter," he said.
Sharing details about the Sopore encounter, Sahi said that operation carried out in Sopore in North Kashmir's Baramulla district last night was very challenging as it was carried out in a built-up area, however, the security forces launched it in a surgical way, which is praiseworthy.
He said that the operation was based on a specific intelligence input, however, the operation was very challenging as it was carried out in a built-up area. "The most important thing about this operation was that there was not any kind of collateral damage. The operation was carried out in a professional manner by the security forces, which is praiseworthy, and I want to compliment the forces for this operation successfully," he said.
Sahi said that the militant group, which was trapped in the operation, was continuously involved in militant related activities and the group was having hardcore Pakistani militants in it. "Hardcore Pakistani militants group-up with the local militants to carry out the militant related activities, There is this big network that exists here, which is a cause of concern as they together carry out the activities and spill the blood of innocent Kashmiris," he said, adding that this nexus needs to be destroyed to bring and development in the valley.
He appealed to the civil society and the people of Jammu and Kashmir to support the security forces so that this nexus is destroyed as this network continuously wants to carry forward the cycle of violence.
"We have also stressed upon breaking the cycle of violence in the valley and there are two ways to do that. One is to stop supporting this network so that innocent Kashmiris do not lose their lives and another one is that those who support them and stay in grand houses, and they don't have personal interests only but to activate the innocent children and make them militants and it is important to understand this thing," he said.
Sahi said that it really hurts when we see young children picking up guns and back home their aged parents urge them to return back. "Therefore, the system which exists needs to be destroyed and stop young children from joining the militant ranks, these are the two thing which help in uprooting the cycle of violence completely," he said.
He also said that those who have been involved in carrying out the militant activities in the valley will be destroyed through surgical strikes very soon. (KNS)