Indian infantry on patrol. (Photo : Indian Army)
The Indian Army has reinforced troops stationed at Jammu and Kashmir to put more muscle into a new push codenamed "Operation Calm Down" to rid the volatile state of Islamic militants and protesters.
The launch of Calm Down in South Kashmir came immediately after General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) of the Indian Army, inspected army units stationed at Kashmir.
Gen. Singh reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness with senior army officers. His inspection took him to Srinagar, headquarters of XV Corps (Chinar Corps).
Army troops in South Kashmir were reinforced by an entire brigade of 4,000 men as part of Calm Down. Troops were told to maintain "maximum restraint" in face of violent protests by the Muslim majority in Kashmir.
These protests were triggered by the death last July 8 of Burhan Wani, a popular commander of the Azad Kashmir-based Hizbul Mujahideen fighting for Kashmir's independence from India.
Wani was killed in combat against Indian security forces and is considered a martyr for Kashmiri independence. He is widely credited with reviving Islamic militancy in Kashmir.
The violent protests are the worst the valley has seen and comes after two years of relative quiet after Pakistan withdrew its support for Islamic militants (or "ultras") confronting India. Over 80 percent of Kashmir's population is Muslim.
Protests following Wani's death have led to the deaths of over 70 people. Some 7,000 civilians and over 4,000 Indian security personnel have been injured.
These anti-India protests inspired by Wani's death continue and last Tuesday, two youths were killed in Kashmir. Over 50 clashes were reported during the day between mobs and security personnel. A curfew was then imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley that evening with Operation Calm Down being launched the next day.
"There is deployment of extra troops in South Kashmir border area and hinterland to mark presence. We have identified 10 major areas of concern specifically in South Kashmir and Kupwara in North Kashmir along with Uri," said the army.
Army troopers assisted by men of the Central Reserve Police Force and state police are conducting patrols and clearing roadblocks consisting of felled trees, electric poles, huge boulders and burned out vehicles.
During his visit, Gen. Singh was briefed about the prevailing situation in the valley by General Officer Commanding XV Corps Lt. Gen. Satish Dua. Gen. Singh also reviewed the security situation in violence-wracked Kashmir, especially in the four worst-affected districts in south Kashmir.
COAS visited army units stationed in the north and south of the Valley to get a first-hand account of the situation from the officers on the ground. He was informed about the steps to be taken to help the civil administration restore normalcy, particularly in south Kashmir.
Gen. Singh toured forward positions along the LAC in Kupwara district to review the preparedness of the anti-infiltration grid.
