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Militant camps across LoC still intact: GOC

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 7/30/2013 11:37:42 PM

SRINAGAR, July 30 : Militancy related infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) is “intact” and there are a number of militant camps there, but the force has an effective counter-infiltration grid to thwart any such attempts, a top Army commander in Kashmir Valley today said.
“The infrastructure across the LoC, around the LoC and in the hinterland is intact, but we have a very effective intelligence network and counter-infiltration grid,” Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, General Officer Commanding of Srinagar based 15 Corps, told reporters here.
He said information sharing and co-operation among the intelligence agencies is very good and there is a huge support from the people of the Valley.
Lt Gen Singh said there are a number of militant camps across, but the numbers are not important. “What is important is their intention and what their planning and methodology is. I think it would suffice to say that the infiltration attempts are continuing and our intelligence and support from the awam (people) is excellent which is assisting us in the operations,” he said.
“I am very happy with the information sharing, co-operation among the intelligence agencies and joint effort in analysing and assessing the information. In fact, it is because of the hard work of the soldiers that we have effectively been able to carry out the counter-infiltration tasks,” he said.
Responding to a question on the increased number of infiltration bids, the officer said, “the militants may think it may be easy to infiltrate in these months (during summer), but our counter infiltration grid is for all the 12 months of the year. We are always ready for the challenge.”
The army commander said the force has learnt its lesson after the Hyderpora attack in Srinagar on the eve of prime minister Manmohan Singh‘s visit to the state last month, which left eight soldiers dead.
“We have learnt our lessons well out of it (attack). We have modified our Standard Operations Procedure (SOP) and we are ready for any challenge of that nature. Also it is our intelligence target for us to locate them (militants involve in the attack) and neutralise them. And on this issue, JK Police, army and other security agencies are focused. It is a matter of time,” he said.
On the three infiltration attempts during the last 24 hours, he said, “the situation is under control.”
He said in Machil sector of Kupwara, the army killed two militants this morning as a group of five to six armed men tried to infiltrate into this side of the LoC. ”The operation is in progress as the weather there is bad,” he said.
Singh said another operation is on in Hafruda forests in Handwara, which was based on a specific intelligence. “It is too early to give any details,” he said.