Jammu, March 29 (KAT): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that shifting of Army personnel from Jammu to Ladakh to counter Chinese incursions allowed terrorists to exploit the situation and asserted that more steps were needed to improve the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar was speaking to reporters after visiting houses of the four police martyrs in Jammu, Reasi and Kathua districts during the day today. Four cops attained martyrdom in encounter with the terrorists at Ghati in Rajbagh area of Kathua district on Thursday. Two terrorists were also eliminated by the security forces.
Asserting that encounters and terror attacks were nothing new and had been happening in the Jammu region for the past three to four years, Omar said even in Reasi district, there was an attack on a passenger bus (ferrying pilgrims last year).
“There were attacks in Jammu city. The reason behind this is that when the Chinese army made an incursion into Ladakh, we needed an Army to counter them,” Omar said, adding: “We could not remove the Army from the Valley and so the troops stationed in Jammu were sent to Ladakh, as a result of which there was a shortage somewhere. Now, that shortage is being slowly overcome.’’
The Chief Minister assured that the compensation cases of the fallen policemen would be taken up by the Home department when offices reopened after Eid next week.
“We should try not to have such incidents,” he said, adding: “We have to control militancy in such a way that the martyrdom of people is stopped forever’’.
Asserting that such incidents had happened in the past as well, Omar said he was of the opinion, although he does not have any intelligence reports, that it was a new group (of terrorists) who had crossed into this side. However, he said, it was good fortune that the terrorists were caught by the police.
“If they were not caught by the police, then I do not know what they would have done by moving deep inside. Our four brave police officers sacrificed their lives but I think that many innocent lives have been saved by their timely action,” the Chief Minister said.
Asked if the situation in the Valley had improved over the years and terrorists shifted their base to the Jammu region, Omar refused to give a direct answer and said he would be accused of indulging in politics at a time of grief.
“We have just left a house where there is mourning. I have been to four places today. I have to express my condolences to each family member. Obviously, we have to take some more steps to improve the (security) situation,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, the Chief Minister wrote: “Visited the families of our bravehearts — Balvinder Singh, Tariq Ahmad, Jaswant Singh and Jagbir Singh — who laid down their lives in the line of duty during the Kathua encounter. Their sacrifice is etched in our hearts forever. We stand with their families in this hour of grief’’.(KAT)
Click Here To Join Kashmir Abb Tak on WhatsApp & Get Latest News and Updates