Says will treat them as antinationals and take harsh action
NEW DELHI: People creating hurdles during anti-terror operations and displaying flags of Pakistan and terror outfit ISIS in Jammu and Kashmir will be dealt with as anti-nationals and face “harsh” actions, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Wednesday.
His stern message came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he paid their respects here to the three of the four soldiers including a major who were killed in two separate encounters in Kashmir on Tuesday.
General Rawat said security forces in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) are facing higher casualties due to the manner in which the local population is preventing them in conducting operations and “at times even supporting the terrorists to escape”.
“We would now request the local population that people who have picked up arms, and they are the local boys, if they want to continue with the acts of terrorism displaying flags of ISIS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them. They may survive today but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue,” said the Army Chief.
General Rawat said those supporting terror activities are being given an opportunity but if they continue with their acts then security forces will come down hard on them.
“We are giving them an opportunity. Should they want to continue, then we will continue with relentless operations may be with harsher measures… if they do not relent and create hurdle in our operations, then we will take tough action.”
PROTEST MARCH FOILED
Authorities on Wednesday did not allow separatists to lead a proposed protest march towards Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front chairman Yasin Malik was detained from his home in Maisuma while moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house arrest.
Hardline separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani and Shabir Shah continue to be under house detention.
