J-K: Army to get tough with those blocking anti-terror ops, troops asked to stick to guns instead of lathis

Amid a blustery political storm over army chief General Bipin Rawat's statement against Pakistan-backed terrorists and their supporters, the force is taking steps to deal sternly with those who obstruct its operations against militants and has asked its troops to use only rifles and drop their long sticks.

The men in olive green are also preparing for a hot summer as inputs suggest that stones would be replaced by Molotov cocktails in small water bottles in the battle against the army waged by Pakistan-supported overground workers active in the Kashmir valley during public demonstrations.

According to information received by the force from the trouble-torn state, the Pakistan-backed mischiefmakers have been gathering a large number of small mineral water bottles like the ones served in aircraft to be used as Molotov cocktail bombs and hurl them on troops and their vehicles, sources told Mail Today.

"We have inputs that they would come into use in a big way in the next summer and they used it in Poonch area where one army tent was set on fire. Such bottles are being stored in large quantities in houses there," the sources said.

Also read: Jammu and Kashmir security forces want defined 'red lines' to deal with stone pelting flash mobs

COMMANDERS GIVEN FREE HAND

The overground workers have been creating major obstacles in operations as during a recent encounter in Handwara, troops were facing firing from terrorists on one side while they were being pelted with stones from the rear, said the sources.

"We have told the troops clearly to get strict with all the elements that obstruct our operations and we cannot allow that. In cases where it becomes necessary, the commanders can also take the action they want," they added.

GEN RAWAT RAISES POLITICAL STORM

The reports come days after General Rawat said civilians who indulge in stone pelting during counterinsurgency operations in Kashmir would be treated as anti-nationals and dealt with accordingly.

"We would request the local population... local boys if they want to continue with the acts of terrorism, displaying flags of the IS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them... If they do not relent and create hurdles, then we will take tough action," he said.

Political leaders including those from the Congress, National Conference and pro-Pakistan separatists like Yasin Malik criticised his statement, saying this would further muddy the situation in the state.

Also read: Parrikar endorses Gen Rawat's warning: Army has free hand in dealing with Kashmiris aiding militants

'FORCES WON'T DISCRIMINATE BASED ON GENDER'

In the past few months, Kashmiri locals comprising mostly women start pelting stones on troops during operations in a bid to help terrorists escape from the encounter spot.

"If the situation continues to remain like this, we will also not discriminate on basis of gender while hitting out at the obstructers," the sources informed.

Due to relatively gentle handling of such obstructers who are directly aiding terrorists, there have also been talks that the junior leadership there is feeling that they are fighting with their hands restrained.

Senior army sources said the personnel were using lathis to stop women from entering their encounter zones but they have now been told by the headquarters to drop them and stick only to their rifles.

Also read: Kashmir stone-pelters plan petrol bombs after Army chief puts protesters on notice

PLANS TO INTENSIFY ANTI-TERROR OPS

The army is also carrying out extensive operations against terrorists even in winter months and will intensify these manoeuvres in the coming days as it wants to hunt down militants hiding in villages due to the snow and cold, sources in the defence ministry said.

They said in the past month, the troops have carried out over 10 such operations in the Valley itself in which at least 14 terrorists including some hardcore ones from Pakistan have also been eliminated.

The sources said the Hajin operation in which three army troops were killed may have been a case where the informer "double-crossed", as they were given wrong information about the house in which the terrorists were hiding.

"When troops surrounded the house, they were fired upon by the militants who were hiding on the rooftop of another house. Apart from three deaths, around 7-8 CRPF men, local police personnel and civilians were injured there," they said.

Also read: Encounter in J-K's Bandipora: 3 Army soldiers die, 1 militant killed

Sources said the army has briefed the top leadership about the way it wants to handle the situation in Kashmir where it does not want the Pakistan-backed movement to gain any momentum.

Senior defence ministry sources said the government is firmly behind the army in its operations in the Valley and counter-terrorist operations there as they are on the ground and know what is to be done to handle the situation.

The army has also tried to use soft measures like using smoke cover to prevent locals from obstructing operations but this has not yielded much result forcing it to consider using harsher methods.

Also watch: Army chief Rawat's warning to Kashmir youth gets political colour. Is Centre's policy in Valley failing?