Demolition of terror factories in Kashmir commences

As tensions between India and Pakistan are gradually peaking in the aftermath of the horrific killing of tourists in Pahalgam, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi Friday visited the Kashmir valley and took stock of the ‘operational’ readiness of the troops and ongoing anti-terror operations launched to hunt down the perpetrators behind the massacre.

The visit of the Army Chief assumed significance as it was taking place after the recent meeting of the cabinet committee on Security, where a series of extraordinary retaliatory measures against Pakistan were announced. Ahead of the visit of the Army Chief in the valley, the Pakistan army late Thursday night activated the Line of Control (LoC) at various locations by resorting to ‘unprovoked’ ceasefire violations.  According to grund reports, these ceasefire violations were reported from the North Kashmir area of Uri to the frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch in the Jammu region.  Rattled by India’s tough posturing, the Pakistan army was probably assessing the ground situation and the preparedness of the neighbouring country. On his arrival in Srinagar, the Army Chief was briefed by the senior officers of the Northern Command headquarters in the presence of Goc-in-C Northern Command Lt-Gen MV Suchindra Kumar.

The Army Chief also reviewed the progress of the anti-terror operation launched to hunt down the perpetrators behind the Pahalgam terror attack. 

The security forces are searching for a group of Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists, including four foreign and three locals, responsible for the Pahalgam attack.

At least half a dozen anti-terror operations were also being conducted at multiple locations across Jammu and Kashmir.

These operations were carried out in the South Kashmir area of Pahalgam and Bandipore, Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur, Doda, Kishtwar and Kathua districts. An overground worker of terrorists was killed while two security force personnel were injured in an encounter in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.

Later, the Army Chief also attended a security review meeting with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar.

During the meeting, LG Manoj Sinha asked the Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, to take effective steps not only to bring those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack to justice but also to intensify efforts to crush the infrastructure of terrorism and its ecosystem.

During the discussion, Lieutenant Governor said the nation has full faith in the bravery and valour of our army, police and CAPFs and they must work in close synergy to identify perpetrators, enablers and OGWs of Pahalgam terrorist killing and pursue the entire chain in a sustained manner and neutralise them.

“Every perpetrator and supporter of Pahalgam terror attack, whatever his location or affiliation, must be hunted and they must pay the heavy price for the cowardly and dastardly act against our citizens,” the Lieutenant Governor told the top army officials.

The meeting also reviewed security mechanisms in place, various short-term, long-term measures and integration and coordination among the various security agencies. The meeting was attended by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Pratik Sharma and GoC 15 Corps Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava.

Meanwhile, Sending out a stern warning to the local terrorists and their associates who are harbouring foreign terrorists to execute their sinister plots, the homes of two local terrorists, allegedly involved in the Pahalgam terror attack, were destroyed in powerful explosions.

According to ground reports, the homes of two local terrorists of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba-Adil Hussain Thoker of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral were razed to the ground late Thursday night.

To avoid collateral damage in the built-up area, the neighbours were shifted to safer locations before the houses were destroyed. The family members of these two local terrorists were reportedly picked up by the police for questioning. The lone female members were also directed to step out before the demolition was carried out.  The local police authorities have not issued any statement on the demolitions till late evening.