Srinagar, Jun 13: Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday claimed that the Fidayeen attack on a CRPF party in southern Anantnag district yesterday that left five troopers dead was carried out “at the behest of Pakistan”.
“Yesterday’s militant attack was a fidayeen attack ordered by Pakistan,” Governor Malik said on the sidelines of a convocation ceremony of a private university at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. “Whenever there is peace is the valley, Pakistan tries to disrupt it by resorting to fidayeen attacks.”
He expressed deep anguish on Thursday over the loss of CRPF men in Wednesday’s militant attack in Anantnag district as floral tributes were paid to the slain personnel at a function held at Humhama.
Condemning the attack, the Governor said his heart went out to the departed soldiers and their families, a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said.
“Whenever successful attempts are made by the security forces to either conduct peaceful elections or continuous elimination of terrorists, the masterminds of terrorists from across the border order them to carry out fidayeen (suicide) attacks on forces and yesterday’s attack in Anantnag district was also a fidayeen attack,” Malik said.
He added that the militants and their handlers should know that “our resolve to eliminate this menace (of terrorism) is unshakable”.
He said that “it is only with the approval of Pakistan that militants carry out fidayeen attacks in the valley”.
When asked about that the attack was carried out on the road on which Amarnath pilgrims are also supposed to travel, the Governor said that the security forces would not allow any militant group to get near the yatris.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held for the five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were killed in the attack at Anantnag’s Khanabal on Wednesday evening.
Governor’s Advisor K Vijay Kumar led officials from the CRPF, police and other security agencies in paying tributes to the slain personnel.
Besides Kumar, other three Advisors Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, K K Sharma and K Skandan have also strongly condemned the attack on CRPF personnel.
In a joint condolence message, all the Advisors have expressed deep anguish over the killing of CRPF soldiers in the attack and conveyed their sympathy to the families of the slain troopers and prayed for peace to the departed souls. They also wished early recovery of a police officer injured in the attack, an official spokesman said.
“The state will always remember officers and jawans who have fallen in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives for safeguarding the future of our citizens,” their message reads.
While hailing the role of security forces in fighting against militancy and maintaining peace in the state, the Advisors said that “such frustrated actions of the forces responsible for insurgency in J&K will not deter the resolve of our security forces and people.”
The Advisors urged the people of the state to stand against these forces and condemning such attacks on security forces in a strong voice.
