Will ask Pakistan to claim body of top LeT commander Naveed Jatt: J&K DGP
Srinagar, November 28:
J&K Director General of Police (DGP) on Wednesday said that Pakistan will be asked to claim the body of top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Naveed Jatt, who was among two militants killed in an encounter with security forces in central Kashmir district of Budgam on Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile, reiterating the appeal to the local militants to shun the path of violence and join the mainstream, the DGP said that all necessary support will be provided to the youth, who decide to unite with their families.
We will take up the matter through proper channel and request Pakistan to claim the body of Jatt, who is a Pakistani national, the DGP told reporters during a press conference here.
Terming the killing of Jatt as a big achievement for security forces and the people of the valley, Mr Singh said many atrocities, including killing of youths and policemen, looting of banks, was being done on the behest of the slain militant commander.
Jatt was involved in the assassination of ‘Rising Kashmir’ Editor-in-Chief Shujaat Bukhari and two of his guards in the Press Enclave area in the summer capital, Srinagar on June 14.
From the last about a week about two dozen militants have been killed in the valley, particularly in south Kashmir, in different operations carried by security forces. I think it is good news for the people as they were facing a lot of problems because of them. Youth were being forced to join militant ranks. Youth were kidnapped and thrashed by these militants, he said.
Claiming that there has been a decline in militancy due to the operations carried out by security forces in the recent past, he said the recruitment of new youth into militant ranks has also witnessed a decline.
Thanking people for their cooperation, he said stone pelting incidents have witnessed a considerable decline, both generally and near encounter sites. All security agencies are working in synergy to minimize any harm to civilians during an operation. The incidents of stone pelting have also witnessed a considerable decline. Now, there are minor incident of stone pelting near encounter sites, he said.
However, he appealed to youth, who still indulge in stone pelting near encounter sites, to stop such activities.
The DGP said there are around 200 to 250 militants active in Kashmir valley. But, he said it is a positive sign that there is hardly any new recruitment to the militant ranks.