We smashed militancy, averted major tragedies : Army, JKP

Khanabal, South Kashmir, July 28 (UNI) Army and Jammu and Kashmir police today said they had smashed militancy and also averted major militant strike in south Kashmir in the past.

Addressing a joint press conference, sector commander of the First Rashitriya Rifles (RR) Brigadier N S Jamwal and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of state police H K Lohia said security forces have achieved major successes by eliminating top brass of militant outfits in the recent past.

They said with close coordination between different forces engaged in counter-insurgency operations and full support from the locals, a number of militant hideouts were busted and a large quantity of arms and ammunition recovered.

Brigadier Jamwal said the incidents of violence has come down in south Kashmir because of major offensive launched by the security forces.

He said militants, who suffered major set backs in the recent past, are now avoiding direct contact with the security forces since they know they will get killed.

''Militants have now changed their strategy and are hurling grenades and detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in which civilians are killed, he said adding they (militants) are now forcing local youths for grenade attacks at crowded places.

Mr Lohia said, ''We have launched a massive offensive against the militants to make the south Kashmir free from violence.'' About the recent recovery of 250 kg high grade explosive, Brig Jamwal and Mr Lohia said it was recovered from a concealed hideout in a vegetable garden in village Sotukpor near Bijbehara in Anantnag district.

Brigadier Jamwal said had the 250 kg explosive not been recovered, it would have caused large scale damage to life and property.

''A grenade is made of just 450 gram of explosive which causes damage to everything within 10 feet area,'' he said and added one cannot imagine the destruction which would have caused the 250 explosive.

UNI BAS AK PC1656