SRINAGAR: The northern army commander, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, stated on Friday that the militants killed in the Rajouri encounter appear to have been trained in Afghanistan and other countries. Their elimination, he asserted, represents a significant setback to “terrorism and its eco-system” in the Rajouri-Poonch area.
During a conversation with reporters on the sidelines of a wreath-laying ceremony for soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty, including two captains in Jammu, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi mentioned that the two slain militants were highly trained. According to him, “It seems that they were trained in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other countries.”
“The supreme sacrifices made by five army soldiers, including two captains, have boosted the morale of the troops, and everyone is dedicated to eradicating terrorists from the soil of Jammu and Kashmir,” Dwivedi said.
When asked about the number of militants active in the Pir Panjal range, the army officer stated that the killing of two highly trained militants in the Rajouri gunfight has dealt a significant blow to militancy and its ecosystem in the region. He added, “The number of terrorists operating in the area may vary as Poonch and Rajouri are connected with the highway. At least 20 to 25 terrorists are still operating in the area, and with the active support of the police and human intelligence, we will be able to root out terrorism within a year from the region,” he said.
On Thursday, the army killed two militants in the Rajouri encounter and identified one of the slain as the top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Qari of Pakistan. The army stated that the slain Qari was an IED expert and a sniper trained to hide in caves and forests.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Director General of Police RR Swain paid floral tributes to the fallen soldiers. (KNO)
