Those who obstruct security ops in J&K to face action: army chief

Army Chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said those who obstruct the army’s operations during encounters in Jammu and Kashmir will be treated as anti-national elements.

The army chief made the comments after paying tributes to security personnel who lost their lives in encounters with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to Major S Dahiya and three other soldiers who were killed on Tuesday in two encounters. He laid wreaths on the bodies of the soldiers, at the Palam Airport where the mortal remains were brought on Wednesday.

Gen Rawat, who briefed the prime minister on the incidents, said the security forces faced higher number of casualties because the local residents hindered their operations and at times even helped the militants 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 after them,” Gen Rawat said.

“They may survive today, but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue. We are giving them an opportunity; should they continue, we will also continue with our relentless operations that may be with harsher measures,” he said.

What has upset the army is that protests followed the gunfights, stalling security operations.

Police were forced to use teargas to stop angry marchers heading to the site of the encounter. While the army claimed a civilian was taken hostage by the militants, the locals claimed he was used by the soldiers as a shield.

Earlier, Modi tweeted, “Paid tributes to the brave men who lost their lives fighting terrorists in J&K. India will always remember their valour & sacrifice.”