29 foreign terrorists active in South Kashmir: Inspector General of Police

Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday revealed that around 29 foreign militants were active in the upper reaches of south Kashmir and they would be neutralised as soon as they come down.

“They [foreign militants] are not in the hinterland but are hiding in the upper reaches of Kokernag, Tral, and Khrew. In these areas there are about 29 foreign terrorists,” said, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir range Vijay Kumar.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony of the CRPF jawan killed in a militant attack in the Bijbehara area of Anantnag district on Friday.

“As soon they (foreign militants) will come down, our sources will inform and we will neutralise them,” Kumar said and added militancy has not been wiped out from south Kashmir despite all the major militant outfits receiving a major detent as due to killing of their cadre.

The IGP asserted that the remaining militants will be killed soon. “Tral area that has been the hotbed of militancy has for the first time since 1989, no active Hizbul militant,” he said.

Asked whether security forces have shifted their focus to north Kashmir, where more foreign militants are reportedly active, Kumar said, “Number of militants in north Kashmir is less compared to the south. We have already started anti-militancy operations in north Kashmir also.”

The IGP said that both human, as well as technical intelligence, was helping them to develop credible leads about the presence of militants. “We develop leads and act against militants and later on identify the militant outfits they belong to,” he said.

Asked about Friday's attack at Bijbheara in which a CRPF man and a five-year-old boy were killed, Kumar said eye-witnesses and police sources have identified the militant involved in the firing.

“His name is Zahid Dar and he is affiliated with J&K Islamic State outfit. He came on a bike and fired indiscriminately. A massive manhunt has been launched to nab him (Dar).”