Baramulla: Asserting that cross-border infiltration was still continuing, the Army
on December 12 said the militants were focussing their attacks on security forces
resulting in decline in civilian killings in the post-election scenario in Jammu and
Kashmir.
"Cross-border infiltration is still going on .... it is an ongoing phenomenon and
very difficult to quantify. It may be on a decline for now but it can also pick up,"
15 Corps commander Lt Gen V G Patankar told reporters after the prize distribution
ceremony of Ujala cricket tournament.
Patankar said there was a decline in civilian killings in the post-election scenario
in Jammu and Kashmir as militants were mostly targetting the security
forces.
"I think it is a good thing as security forces are better prepared to face such
attacks ... civilians have less defence against these attacks," he said.
Asked whether the reorientation of special operations group (SoG) and local police
had affected the anti-insurgency operations in the state, Patankar replied in the
negative.
"I do not think they (SoG) were doing only bad things. They have done a lot of
positive things also," he said in a defensive note for the local anti-terrorism
group.
Asked whether the SoG will be merged with local police, he said it is for the state
government to decide.
On his meeting with US Ambassador Robert Blackwill in Srinagar recently, the senior
Army commander said the American diplomat was on a familiarisation
visit.
"He (Blackwill) wanted to know the nature of terrorism going on in Kashmir,"
Patankar said about the US Ambassador's cold shoulder to separatist leadership
during his visit.
PTI
