SRINAGAR: Army’s Northern command chief Lt Gen D Anbu on Tuesday visited volatile south Kashmir to review security situation there and complimented troops for killing Burhan Wani’s successor and top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Wani while authorities foiled the Tral march called by separatist leaders by imposing restrictions.
“Lt Gen D Anbu today visited Army formations and units in south Kashmir to take stock of the situation,” defence spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said.
South Kashmir has emerged as hotbed of militancy and according to security agencies over militants are active in the region comprising four districts Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam and Shopian. The Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba militants are operating in south Kashmir, which was also the epicenter of over five month long unrest in Valley last year after killing of Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016.
“During his meetings with army commanders in south Kashmir, Lt Gen Anbu was briefed by field Commanders on the prevailing security situation and the measures taken to ensure peace and calm in the Valley especially in the south Kashmir,” Kalia said.
Which interacting with the troops, Northern command chief complimented troops for their alertness, initiative and synergy with other security forces which has resulted in conduct of successful operations including the recent counter militant operation in which a top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sabzar Ahmad Bhat was killed.
Lt Gen Anbu exhorted on army officers to continue with the same dedication as the entire nation looks up to them.
Sabzar, who had taken over as Hizb chief for Kashmir after killing of Burhan last year, alongwith his associate Faizan Ahmad was killed in an encounter with security forces in a Soimoh village of Tral in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday last.
Meanwhile, for the third consecutive day after Sabzar’s killing, authorities imposed curfew-like restrictions in parts of Valley to foil Tral march called by the separatist leaders.
An official said tough restrictions were imposed in all four south Kashmir districts and parts of Srinagar and other places of Valley to prevent people from marching towards Tral.
The police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in strength in the curfew-hit areas to foil separatists march, maintain law and order and foil anti-India protests.
The cops had placed barricades and concertina wires on the roads to prevent movement of people.
The authorities also closed Srinagar-Jammu national highway for vehicular traffic today in view of Tral march called by the separatists.
All educational institutions in the Valley remained closed for the third day today.
The train services and mobile internet services also remained suspended for the 4th successive day today.
A police spokesman said situation across the valley remained peaceful and under control.
He said minor incidents of stone pelting were reported some areas of south Kashmir.
Army apprehends man with Rs 2 crore worth heroin near LoC
Army apprehended a 23-year-old drug peddler Mohammad Kasim, along with two packets of heroin from the Line of Control (LoC) in Bhimber Gali of Poonch district last evening, defence spokesman in Jammu Lt Colonel Manish Mehta said.
He said heroin valued at over Rs two crores in the international market.
Mehta said Kasim, a local resident, under the garb of cattle grazer had gone to LoC and received the consignment of heroin from a Pakistani administered Kashmir (PaK) national.
“The troops challenged and apprehended the individual,” he said adding the apprehension is a significant blow to the nefarious designs of Pakistan Army in facilitating narco smuggling to fund militancy in the state.
He said search of the area and further investigations are under progress.