Srinagar, April 09:The Army on Friday said they will prevent fresh militant recruitment and bust the OWG network in Kashmir saying that they would also counter social media used for radicalisation.
Addressing a joint press conference in Srinagar after killing of seven militants in twin encounters in south Kashmir, General in Command (GOC) 15 Chinar Corps Lt. Gen Devendra Pratap Pandey said in some parts of Kashmir cycle of violence continues.
“Our priority will be to plug this OGW network. Anyone who chooses path of violence will be dealt strictly. Local militants will be offered surrender or if they refuse will be neutralised,” Pandey said.
The GoC said in the past some families approached them and requested them that their children have opted the wrong path.
“They told us they should be taken out from the localities or put them in jail for sometime so that they will shun the path of violence,” he said.
The GoC said the local militant recruitment is very less this year compared to previous years appealing people to help them prevent the recruitment cycle.
Pandey said they will provide every possible support to youth who are willing to leave militancy and join the mainstream.
He said the Friday operation in Shopian was very difficult as militants took shelter in Masjid and “we maintained sanctity in place of worship.”
At the presser, Corps Commander was flanked by IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar and GOC Victor Force Major General Rashim Bali where they briefed about the two successful operations.
About injuries to forces, Bali said one officer and three army men were also injured in the gunfight. They have received minor injuries and are stable.
While addressing the media, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in twin encounters they have killed seven militants including AGH chief Imtiyaz Shah, who was active since April 2019.
He claimed that the local Imam of the mosque and brother of the trapped militant had to go inside the Masjid to persuade them to surrender and no IED or grenades were used following respect of the place of worship.
“Some miscreants in initial hours tried to disrupt the operations after which police used dispersed them. Three civilians sustained injuries and all are stable,” he said.
Over the past six months, the IGP said there is a trend that militant outfits are interchanging their groups. “They work closely with each other and there is an interchange of cadres, it is a new pattern, it is not new for the forces,” he said.
He said AGH Chief Imtiyaz Shah, who was killed along with his associate in Tral was designated to attack this year’s Amarnath Yatra convoy along the highway.
About AGH group, Kumar said one militant still active in the group unless there is a new recruitment in next two-three days or another outfit militant would join him.
The IGP said a total 6 militants have surrendered in encounters during the first three months and out of them two have surrendered recently in Kakapora Pulwama during live encounters along with AK-47 rifles.
