Desperate attempt by militants to disrupt elections: Gen Suhag

Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag today said the attack on Uri camp in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was a desperate attempt by militants to disrupt the democratic process in the state.

"It appears a desperate attempt to disrupt the third phase of elections. I assure the nation that these elements will not be allowed to succeed in disrupting the democratic process," he told reporters here.

Gen Suhag, who arrived here this morning, also paid tributes to the slain security force personnel by laying wreaths on their coffins at a sombre ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment here.

He paid tributes to the slain soldiers, which included an officer of the Lt Colonel rank, saying their sacrifice will not go waste.

"I salute the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Their sacrifice will not go waste. In fact, it will inspire each of us," he added.

The Army chief reviewed the security situation in the state in the wake of the Uri attack that left 11 security force personnel dead, and other militancy-related incidents that saw two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants getting killed in an encounter in Srinagar while two civilians also lost their lives in a grenade blast in Tral town of south Kashmir.

The Army Chief was brief by the top army officers of the Chinar Corps about the counter-insurgency and counter- infiltration measures in place.

Meanwhile, a defence spokesman said the Army Chief was briefed on the two recent operations which resulted in the elimination of 12 militants.

"He also took a stock of the state of security in the Valley in light of the ongoing elections," the spokesman said.

The Army Chief expressed his satisfaction on the high state of alertness of the forces and commended their level of commitment and preparation which has ensured that the malafide intentions of the adversaries have not been able to dent the spirit of the population, the spokesman said.

Gen Suhag said peaceful atmosphere in which the polls have been conducted in the first two phases has been due to the efforts put in by all the security forces.

He highlighted the role of the brave soldiers in the harshest of terrain and weather conditions, and the supreme sacrifice made, in order to ensure that the militants were prevented from reaching the populated areas and causing harm to innocent civilian lives.