Fidayeen determined, can’t stop attacks in J&K: BSF

SRINAGAR: The chief of Border Security Force (BSF) KK Sharma said Wednesday it’s difficult to stop suicide attacks in Jammu and Kashmir as the militants come “wearing shrouds” and the only way to deal with them was the troops’ alertness, a day after the paramilitary force’s camp was infiltrated near the Srinagar airport.

“The fidayeen are determined. We can’t stop their attacks.

They will always manage to come but it is the response which is important,” Sharma said after participating in the wreath-laying ceremony for assistant sub-inspector of BSF BK Yadav in Humhama.

Yadav died fighting one of the three militants who entered the highly fortified 182 battalion camp near the Srinagar airport early on Tuesday.

All three were killed in the gunfight that lasted for hours.

Three others security personnel also sustained injuries in the attack, claimed by the Pakistanbased outfit Jaish-e-mohammed (JEM), which is blamed for similar strikes at Indian security bases including at Uri in September 2016 that killed 19 soldiers.

The paramilitary force’s chief, without naming Pakistan, said attacks would continue until people across the border don’t stop. “So long our friendly neighbour does not behave, I think we will expect we will have many more (such attacks),” Sharma said.

He added that the response of

BSF was “highly professional” and the moment the militants entered they were “spotted and challenged, and were neutralised” without causing any collateral damage or “much harm”. “You are aware of the number of fidayeen attacks in the past and the damage they have caused. In comparison, the BSF has acquitted itself very well, and I am proud of the boys,” he said.

Sharma said that two of the three militants were wearing Central Reserve Police Force battle uniform while the third was wearing a Pathani kurta.

“We think that the fidayeen were targeting the weapons of the quarter guard but an alert quarter guard detected the terrorists and he challenged them,” he said.

Sharma said “this timely

detection” prevented a major catastrophe. He said the three militants dispersed and one went towards the canteen where he was immediately killed. Of the remaining, while one entered the subordinate officers’ mess, another barged into the administrative block.

Deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh said such attacks were “proxy war” and state and Centre were fighting this “demon”.