Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): 180 terrorists were killed in 75 anti-militancy operations conducted across Jammu and Kashmir this year, while 26 ultras who had joined the militant ranks surrendered and were reunited successfully with their families, J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh said today.
The DGP was addressing a press conference at Police Control Room in Srinagar after a top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist from Pakistan and his local aide were killed in an encounter at Barzulla-Rambagh area of Srinagar today.
The J&K top cop said that the slain Lashkar commander killed in Srinagar gunfight has been identified as Saifullah from Pakistan, who was involved in a series of attacks on security forces, inflicting causalities on them.
“Today’s operation was a successful one. All the operations against militants conducted this year were clean and conducted in a professional manner,” the J&K Police chief said. He said that barring one operation at Batamaloo in Srinagar, in which one woman got killed in a cross-fire, all operations were conducted in a professional manner by the security forces.
Asked whether Lashkar and other militants are trying to set their foot again in Srinagar, the DGP said that this year, eight encounters took place in the city in which 18 militants including a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander were killed. “Whenever any militant outfit tries to establish its base in Srinagar, we successfully corner the militant with the help of our intelligence and other sources,” the DGP said.
On how many militants are active in Srinagar, the DGP said that at present only one militant is active in the city who is involved in a couple of attacks. “We will bring him to justice very soon,” Singh said.
About how many security forces personnel were killed this year, he said police lost 19 personnel and CRPF 21. “Army lost 15 soldiers and the majority of them were killed on the LoC,” the DGP said.
Replying to a query as to how many youths were brought back after joining militant ranks this year, he said that with the help of their parents and efforts of J&K police, 26 youths, who had joined militancy were reunited with their families.
Asked whether the police was sending the youth who shun militancy outside J&K, the DGP said no youth has been sent out the UT as yet. On whether there was any rehabilitation policy for the youth who quit militancy, he said: “Officially there is no policy as yet. When there would be one, details will be shared.”
To a query whether police reaches out to the families of slain cops who die fighting militants, the DGP said that every week, crores of rupees are being released for the families of police martyrs.
-ARK
