Officials from Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir police force on Tuesday, 19 February, said there is no doubt over involvement of Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the deadly attack which claimed the life of 40 CRPF Army men in South Kashmir’s Pulwama on 14 February.
Corps Commander of Chinar Corps of Indian Army KJS Dhillon said there was no doubt that the Pakistan Army and ISI were involved.
Dhillon also said that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), the terrorist group which claimed the responsibility of the attack, is a child of the Pakistan Army.
The officials announced that the Indian Army eliminated JeM leadership in Kashmir in less than 100 hours of the Pulwama terrorist attack.
‘JeM Leadership Eliminated’
“I would like to inform that in less than 100 hours of Pulwama terrorist attack, we have eliminated JeM leadership in the valley which was being handled by JeM from Pakistan,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.
The officials refused to share the operational details of the investigation citing confidentiality of the probe.
Lt Gen, however, mentioned that the investigators have leads on the type of explosives used in the Pulwama attack.
“The type of car bomb attack that took place in Pulwama on 14 February happened after a long time in Kashmir. We will keep all options open to deal with these kinds of attacks,” he said.
“The incident happened because of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) laden civilian car. The Road Opening Party (ROP) had secured the highway. Now, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on civilian cars will be changed,” Zulfiquar Hasan, Inspector General of CRPF said.
“Our focus is clear on the counter-terrorism operations. We are very clear that anyone who enters Kashmir will not go back alive,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.
The Army official also issued a stern warning, in his address to press, that anyone who enters the Valley will not go back alive and also requested the mothers in Kashmir.
‘Pick Up Gun, Get Eliminated’
“Anyone who has picked up a gun will be killed and eliminated, unless he surrenders,” he added.
“In a Kashmiri society, a mother has a great role to play. Through you, I would request the mothers of Kashmir to please request their sons who've joined terrorism to surrender and get back to mainstream,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.
Police officials have also claimed that the recruitment in militant groups has reduced significantly since November.
“There is a significant dip in recruitment (of people by militants). We have not see any recruitment in the last three months. The families are playing a huge role in this. We would like to urge the families and the community in curtailing recruitment.”SP Pani, Inspector General Police (IGP) of Kashmir
Senior CRPF official Hasan said the forces have issued a helpline to help Kashmiri people across the country, in the wake of reports of violent attacks on students and people of Kashmir across the country.
“Our helpline-14411 has been helping Kashmiris across the country in wake of this attack. Lot of Kashmiri students have approached this helpline for help all over the country. All Kashmiri children studying outside have been taken care of by security forces,” he said.
Lt Gen KJS Dhillon also added that Brigadier Hardeep Singh, who was on leave due to injury, cut short his leave voluntarily and came to the operation site and stayed there and lead his men from the front.
The officials said that due to the attack, the movement of civilian traffic was restricted.
“We are working out modalities as to how best it can be streamlined so that minimum delay is caused to civilian traffic,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.
(With inputs from ANI)
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