More terrorists being neutralised, says Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar said on Friday that the increased number of terrorist encounters show that the country's intelligence has "increased" and counter terrorist network is "tightening".

"More encounters means — we are neutralising more, our intelligence has increased, our counter terrorist network is now tightening up," he told reporters here.

He said, "If you see the ratio of security forces martyrdom... To terrorists deaths (it) is now in the favour of the security forces at the rate of 1:4.3/4.4."

The number of terrorists' neutralised was more than 50 now, whereas only 12 security forces personnel had lost their lives.

Stating that the loss of security forces should further reduce, he said "our efforts are towards it."

Parrikar was responding to a question on whether the increased number of terror encounters was because of increased vigil or more attempts of infiltration.

The Defence Minister was here to witness the inaugural flight of India's indigenous basic trainer aircraft, Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) designed and developed by HAL here.

A militant was killed on Friday in an ongoing encounter with security forces in Sopore in north  Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Pointing out that most incidents of terror infiltration and encounters take place before winter, Parikkar said either they were not noted earlier or probably they were not taken "very seriously".

Claiming that the country used to lose almost a soldier for a terrorist, Parrikar said "now you see yesterday's report. Four terrorists on the border trying to infiltrate were killed. In three days, two attempts have been neutralised."

Four militants and a soldier were killed as the Army, on Thursday, foiled an infiltration bid, the second such attempt in three days, in Tangdhar sector near the Line of Control in Kashmir.