Omar asks security forces to be vigilant against militancy

J&K chief minister says "we will be able to see its (militancy's) end"

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today asked security forces not to let their guard down, saying militancy in the state has not ended yet.

"We will have to be vigilant and not let down the guard. Militancy has not ended in the state yet. If that were the case, the situation would have been different," Omar said in his address to police personnel on Police Martyrs' Commemoration Day at Zewan, 15 kms from here.

He said there were still remnants of militancy present in the state which need to be given a strong response.

"There is still some effect and influence present and to finish it off, it is our duty that we do not give them even one chance of success. Wherever the militants attack, they have to be dealt with an iron fist," he said.

Omar, however, said there has been substantial success in tackling militancy in the state and it seems that "we will be able to see its end".

The Chief Minister said militant strikes against the Army and other security forces were due to procedural lapses as the standard operation procedures (SOPs) were not followed.

"In all the incidents in which security forces were targeted this year, there was a minor or major lapse and the militants took advantage of that. I am not just referring to Hiranagar and Samba incidents. I am referring to all the incidents in which the militants have got the better of the security forces," he said.

"I believe at some point of time there has been relaxation of the SOPs that were put in place. Had the SOPs been followed, I believe these incidents would not have taken place. I think it is important that the SOPs be followed and these militants be denied an opportunity to have successes like these," he said.

Omar lauded sacrifices of the police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty during the current year.

"They have sacrificed their today for our tomorrow. We want to assure the families of the martyrs that we are with them," he said.

The Chief Minister said police had played an important role in breaking the back of militancy in the state, which was the reason that ultras were targeting them.

"But they (militants) do not know, the more they attack us, our morale gets higher to defeat them. We have not given these sacrifices for nothing. We will ensure that these sacrifices will not go waste.

"We will ensure the defeat of the forces, which had tried to destabilise the situation in the state - whether they have used guns or their voice for this purpose. We are ready for any sacrifice to achieve this goal," he said.