Jammu, Mar 24: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday asserted that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir cannot be finished without the support of the people.
He said his government is extending support to the Union Home Ministry to ensure the security situation remains peaceful in the union territory.
“Though it (security) is directly not our responsibility, I am repeatedly saying that militancy cannot be finished without the support of the people. The elected government is making attempts and is supporting (Lt Governor) to keep the situation under control and maintain peace,” the chief minister told reporters outside the assembly here before the start of the day’s business.
He was responding to a question on the ongoing anti-terrorist operation in Sanyal near the International border in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district.
“Such things have happened in the past as well and as far as my information is concerned, no contact was established (with terrorists). The search and cordon operation launched based on suspicious movement is going on and let us see how the situation develops,” Abdullah said.
He said the operation is taking place in a border village and they may have come from across the border.
“Making any statement on this right away will be premature. Let us see how the situation develops,” he said.
Asked about the frequent targeting of Kathua and Billawar by terrorists, the chief minister said many areas of the Jammu belt have seen terror activities over the past couple of years as “we have seen it in Rajouri and Poonch and several others areas” and their attempt is disturbed peace”.
Security forces had a brief exchange of fire with terrorists hiding in the forests on Sunday evening. Security forces have deployed drones and sniffer dogs to track down the five Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists in the Saniyal area, but they have not been sighted so far.
The group of terrorists is believed to have infiltrated through the international border (IB) between India and Pakistan which is just about 4 km from the spot.
A seven-year-old girl, Anchal, sustained injuries when a bullet passed close to her arm and was shifted to a local hospital.
Reports said that a local woman, Anita Devi, and her husband Ganesh Kumar had spotted the terrorists when they had gone into the forest area to collect firewood.
The IB in Kathua district has emerged as a major infiltration route for terrorists from Pakistan to the higher reaches of the tri-junction connecting Udhampur, Doda, and Kishtwar districts. This has been evident from the series of attacks in areas of Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts since last year.
The Rising Star Corps of the Indian Army said on X late night on Sunday “Based on Intelligence Input regarding the presence of terrorists, a Joint Operation has been launched by @JmuKmrPolice & troops of #RisingStarCorps on 23 March in general area Saniyal #Hiranagar. Operations in Progress”.