94 terrorists killed so far in 2020, says Kashmir IG Vijay Kumar

Inspector General of Police for Kashmir Vijay Kumar said on Tuesday (June 16) that 94 terrorists have been killed so far in the year 2020, and that their focus would now be on north Kashmir.

His statement came after three terrorists were killed on the same day at south Kashmir’s Shopian district in an operation by security forces, which included the police, the Army’s 44 RR (one of India’s counter-insurgency units), and the Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF).

“The militants opened fire on the search party. In the gunfight, the militants have been killed. The area is being searched for the bodies,” The Hindu quoted a police officer as saying.

The identities and affiliation of the deceased to terror groups has not been identified yet. Officials said they recovered two AK-47 rifles and one INSAS rifle from the site of the operation.

The Hindu also reported that 17 terrorists had been killed so far in Shopian district over the last one month.

Related news | Three militants killed in encounter in J&K’s Shopian

Earlier, Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh said on Monday (June 15) that 27 terrorists were killed by security forces in the last 17 days in the valley.

He also claimed that this was “causing frustration among militants, who are now targeting innocent people”.

“Ensuring peace (in Kashmir), we have killed 27 terrorists in the past 16 to 17 days. These terrorists belonged to LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba), JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed) and Hizb (Hizb-ul-Mujahideen). They have been frustrated. They are now targeting innocents,” Singh told reporters in Doda district.

The DGP, who was in a security review meeting in Doda district, said these terrorists are hitting innocent and soft targets. “This has not only annoyed the government but also the people of the Kashmir Valley,” he said.

When asked about the lack of security to a Kashmiri Pandit sarpanch, who was shot dead by terrorists in Anantnag district last week, he said security is subject to the daily drill.

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“The concerns of the people, who feel insecure, are being addressed. Individual security is subject to the review of the security review committee of the union territory. They are examining this issue,” Singh said.

He also claimed that Doda will soon be free from terrorism since only one terrorist is alive in the district. “Only one militant is surviving in Doda district. Soon we will eliminate him too and the district will become militancy free,” he said.

The DGP also went on to hit out at Pakistan for aiding and abetting terrorists by infiltrating them into Jammu and Kashmir to continue violence. “Large number of militants, including top commanders, have been killed in the past five months. But they (Pakistan) try to increase the pitch of violence by carrying out infiltration into J-K,” he said.

Singh said these launchpads were not closed even during winters. “They tried to infiltrate terrorists in winters too. First batch of terrorists was sent to this side in March itself from Keran. They were killed within five days. They carried out infiltration bids in Poonch-Rajouri and the International Border (IB). They too were neutralised,” he said.

The DGP further said the security grid on the Line of Control (LoC) was “perfect to foil their designs”.

“If anyone crosses into the hinterland, they are eliminated there,” he added.

(With inputs from agencies)