Terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are attempting to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra, a senior Army officer announced on Friday.
Lt General K.J.S. Dhillon, commander of the Chinar Corps, was addressing a press conference in Srinagar with Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh.
Dhillon claimed a landmine and sniper rifle were found on the route of the Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 1 and is scheduled to end on August 15. Dhillon said the Army recently found a landmine with markings of the “Pakistan Ordnance Factory” and an M24 sniper rifle of US origin.
In the last three-four days, Dhillon declared, “there were confirmed intelligence reports that terrorists backed by Pakistan and its army are trying to disrupt Amarnath Yatra.” Dhillon noted the Army had achieved success in search operations.
The joint Army-police press conference was held in the backdrop of the Centre deploying 25,000 more paramilitary personnel to Jammu and Kashmir. Dilbag Singh said, “We're getting inputs that violence levels are likely to be increased by militants. So, we've tried to strengthen the grid on ground.”
Dhillon asserted the situation on the Line of Control was “under control and largely peaceful” and declared the Army will not allow Pakistan to disturb the peace in Kashmir.
The situation along the LoC is under control and largely peaceful, the Army said on Friday, asserting that it will not allow Pakistan to disturb peace in Kashmir.
More than 10 serious attempts to trigger IED blasts were made in the Kashmir valley, mostly in Pulwama and Shopian areas, IG Kashmir S.P. Pani said.
The Army also said 83 per cent of terrorists have a history of stone-pelting.
(With PTI inputs)