A day after a 22-year-old jawan was killed in stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday said that stone-pelters there are overground workers of terror groups and should be dealt with sternly. He also warned Pakistan to desist from supporting cross-border terrorism.
On the death of Jawan Rajendra Singh in stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Rawat reiterated his earlier stand that the stone-pelters are nothing but over ground workers of terror outfits. “I still say the same... If they (stone-pelters) can kill people with such acts, are they not becoming like terrorists.”
Singh, 22, died at a hospital in Srinagar on Friday after he sustained head injuries during stone-pelting by a group of youths on Thursday.
“I want to tell them (stone-pelters) that no one will benefit from stone-pelting,” said the Army chief, adding tough action should be taken against the stone-pelters. He said the Army has got an FIR lodged in the case.
The Army chief also asked Pakistan to desist from aiding and abetting terrorism in J&K, asserting India is strong enough to ensure the border state remains a part of India and no one can take it away by force or any other means.
The aim of Pakistan, he said, is to keep the Indian Army “embroiled in this proxy war that they have lost.”
“But, let me assure you, Indian Army and the Indian State is strong enough to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir remains part of India. No one else can take it away by force,” he said.
On cross-border infiltration, he said Pakistan would be wise to know that by indulging in such activities, harm is coming to Pakistan only.
“We are capable of finishing any infiltrators who reach our side. But, if Pakistan continues to support infiltration, we can use other kinds of action too,” Rawat said.
