‘450 terrorists still operating in J&K’

JAMMU : Claiming that fight against Pak-sponsored terrorism has entered an important phase, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said on Thursday that 450 terrorists were still operating in Jammu and Kashmir and terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC) was intact.

Northern Command GOC-in-C said Pakistan continues to give full support to terrorism and it was evident from the fact that 16 terror camps were operating in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Around 350 to 400 terrorists are active in the Valley, north of Pir Panjal and on its south in Jammu region there are around 50 terrorists, who are largely dormant,” said Lt Gen Singh.

General Singh also informed that 191 youths had joined terrorist groups in Kashmir last year but there was a relative decline in their number since October. “We are making concerted efforts to reach out to such youngsters, their parents and teachers so that they do not join any outfit.”