Srinagar: "There are more than the 200-odd terrorists holed up in the Kashmir valley, mostly in South Kashmir currently. It is Pakistan which is much more desperate than the terrorists themselves. Their (terrorists) movement is
there and our counter-movement is also there,” says Jammu and Kashmir Director-General of Police, Dilbag Singh.
“What is Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hinting at when he says that there could be more Pulwama-like attacks? Terror threats are the real reason why we have a massive deployment of security forces here,” said Dilbag Singh in an
exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle.
“A majority of terrorists are Pakistan nationals and there is desperation. Today, contact with militants was established in Pulwama and a brief firing took place. We thought that it would convert into operation, but could not,” he revealed.
After a tense day at work, the 1987 batch IPS officer settled down for a lengthy interview with this correspondent at his highly fortified residence, his first media interaction in the last eight days.
As his phone rings endlessly and he greets ‘Id mubarak’ to all his officers, the IPS officer who is at the helm of the most challenging period of his career in Jammu and Kashmir, says that the next challenges are on August 14 and
August 15, the Independence day of Pakistan and India respectively.
“These are sensitive days for us and precautionary measures for both days will be more than routine. We hope it passes of peacefully just like today (Id),” he says with a rare smile of over a week.
Excerpts of an exclusive conversation.
Leave alone hardened elements like terrorists and stone pelters, even an average Kashmiri is angry with the Centre's
move on abrogating Article 370?
It might be because people are unable to understand the implications, or be able to see the positive side of the move. There are many positive aspects to this and once they fully understand them, things would be different.
Is there an anticipation of a terror strike as militants are desperate to strike?
There are 200-odd militants active in the Valley at the moment. But more than the militants who are here, it is Pakistan which is desperate and wants something to happen. There are Pakistani nationals among them who are working in
organisations like Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-tayyaba (LeT). The Pakistan PM is hinting at Pulwama type of attack. We are taking all precautions and that is why there is massive deployment.
How do you describe the prevailing situation today, eight days since the Centre's move?
If you compare the situation today with that of 2016 when terrorist-commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Wani was neutralised by security forces and a wave of violence that followed, the present situation is far better.
What about stone pelting incidents?
Earlier on a single day, there used to be dozens of stone pelting incidents and the atmosphere used to remain tense throughout the week. Stone pelting is at an all time low since last one year and people have faith in security forces.
How has the valley been in the last eight days?
In the last eight days, there has been one minor incident of stone pelting and BBC picked it up and indulged in false propaganda. Even in this tense situation, are you witnessing any violence? We are facilitating people to use our phones. People have been cooperating with us. There is no curfew, only restrictions.
In SHMS lot of youth who suffered pellet injuries are being admitted?
It is false. Earlier, pellet guns used to be fired at 100 different places in the valley. Now, one stray incident takes place and it gets publicised. Let the hospital authorities give the list of those injured in pellet injuries. Even a sensitive place like Hazratbal remained totally peaceful.
But when will deployments come down and when will communication be restored?
Yesterday, there were no restrictions at 50 places. We are slowly preparing for withdrawing restrictions. There are people who are indulging in false propaganda at the behest of Pakistan, tweeting sitting in foreign countries. Today, there was a mischievous tweet that a policeman killed a CRPF jawan.
