Infiltration of militants has increased this year, says Army

 

SRINAGAR: Ahead of the possible meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Gen Pervez Musharraf, the army on Sunday said the infiltration of militants from across the border has increased compared to last year.

 

General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 15 corps, Lieutenant General Sarabjit Singh Dhillon, said the figures so far gathered by the army have shown that the infiltration of militants from across the line of control has increased this year.

 

“Levels of infiltration are marginally higher than last year. In some months of the year there is an increase in the infiltration and in other months there is a lull. We can only give exact figures at the end of the year when we take stock of the situation. But there is no doubt that infiltration is on the higher side this year,” said Gen Dhillon on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of a cricket stadium constructed by the army at Awantipora in south Kashmir.

 

Gen Dhillon, however, said militancy-related incidents in the hinterland have come down compared to last year. “There is no doubt that violence level in Kashmir is less than last year. In fact for the last four or five years the violence level is showing a decrease though there are sporadic incidents here and there,” he said.

 

The GOC said now people are fed up with the violence and there is a yearning for peace. “There is a yearning for peace in Kashmir. And we are moving towards the path of peace and tranquility in the state,” he said.