Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) S K Sinha has called for greater vigilance against continued infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, saying that prevailing instability and a big spurt in terrorism in Pakistan poses a grave threat to us.
Srinagar, Aug.14 : Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt. Gen (Retd) S K Sinha has called for greater vigilance against continued infiltration from Pakistan occupied Kashmir, saying that 'prevailing instability and a big spurt in terrorism in Pakistan poses a grave threat to us'.
'We cannot lower our guard nor relax our vigil', the Governor said apprehending that creased terrorism may spill across the LOC into our State.
In a message delivered on the eve of Independence Day, the Governor expressed concern over the existing infrastructure in PoK and continued infilitration. In addition, he said that only last week the Parliamentary Secretary representing the Pakistan Ministry of Defence had held out a threat of Jehad in Kashmir.
He said that a Pakistan in grave crisis could have have disastrous consequences for the region. However, he extended his sympathies to the people of Pakistan, saying 'we hope and pray that they emerge successfully our of their present crisis'.
The Governor said that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir has resulted in death of 16398 innocent civilians, almost all, at the hands of terrorists. IEDs and indiscriminate grenade throwing has resulted in 1699 deaths and 15289 injured, including women and children.
Fragrant human rights violations by the terrorists including several molestations/rapes and 157 throat slitting have virtually gone uncondemned. He gave a passionate call for mobilizing public opinion against this mayhem.
Elaborating on terrorist plans to vitiate the atmosphere in the State, Lt. Gen.Sinha said that despite marked improvement in the security scenario due to the combined efforts of the people and the Security Forces, the State has not yet come out of the tunnel of violence.
He said the incidents of violence continue and referred to two attacks by terrorists on tourists as a result of which 10 persons, including eight tourists died and 11 were injured.
In other two attacks on Amarnath pilgrims, he said two local connected with the Yatra were killed and 14 injured.
Expressing his anguish over the recent Langate incident, the Governor said the heart chilling barbaric and brutal incident by four criminals, two locals and two non-locals, "has deeply shocked each one of us."
He complimented the State Police for so promptly identifying and arresting the criminals.
However, he regretted that the misguided and ill-conceived call given by some separatists and terrorists, asking all non-locals to quit the State within a week and said that this has shocked all right thinking people.
Acts of terrorism are taking place in different countries, he said, but in no country has anyone given a call for ethnic cleansing. He made an earnest appeal to both locals and non-locals in the State to meet this grave challenge unitedly and restore amity and brotherhood.
On human rights, the Governor said that there had been odd occasions when the Army was guilty of human rights violations. So far during the last 18 years, 34 such instances had taken place in which 90 Army personnel have been punished with dismissal and imprisonment ranging from 1 to 14 years.
Most of the allegations against the Army were totally false or highly exaggerated as part of a deliberate plan of separatists and terrorists to vilify the Army.
"We should not allow ourselves to be misled by such propaganda. The record of our Army in respecting human rights is far superior to that of Pakistan Army in Baluchistan and Wazirstan or of the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan," he said.
The Governor referred to the crusade launched against corruption by the State Government and complimented it for working on several development projects on a war footing.
Greeting the people on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day, the Governor said that India with its crown of Jammu and Kashmir State is emerging as a global power.
ANI