Army Chief Bipin Rawat has stated that external forces are attempting to revive the Khalistani insurgency in Punjab. He further stated that the central and state governments are aware of it and they are taking all steps necessary.
Union govt is taking full action against external forces trying to revive insurgency in Punjab. CM is concerned and taking direct action so the violence doesn’t spread again. Outsiders will attempt but the people of Punjab will not let them do it: Army Chief Bipin Rawat pic.twitter.com/qtFVzXx7oO
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
On Militancy in Kashmir
General Rawat also said that the youth should refrain from joining terrorism. He said that although opportunities will be provided for them to surrender if they continue with violent activities, they will be neutralized. He was addressing at an event titled ‘Changing colours of internal security in India: Trends and Responses’.
It is not worth joining militancy because you will not live long. We are giving you an opportunity to surrender and give up guns. If people do not behave and continue violence, the only element left is to neutralise them. Army Chief, Bipin Rawat pic.twitter.com/Itj2KSY19c
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
On stone pelters
The Army Chief has strong words for stone pelters as well. He firmly stated that stone pelters are terrorist supporters and need to be dealt with strongly. He stated, “Anyone who is disrupting operations of the security forces needs to be dealt with strongly because what are you trying to do? The terrorist who is trying to create violence in your society, the security forces are coming to neutralize them and if you are preventing the armed forces from neutralizing those elements which are disrupting peace in the society and you want to allow them to escape or not allow security forces to take action against them, then what are you? You are a supporter of the terrorist.”
Previous statements
General Rawat has warned the Kashmiri youth sympathising with terrorists in the past as well. He had said in May, “Azadi will not happen, you cannot fight the Army — this is a dictum Kashmiri youth need to know.” In February, last year, he had stated, “We would now request the local population that people who have picked up arms, and they are the local boys, if they want to continue with the acts of terrorism displaying flags of ISIS and Pakistan, then we will treat them as anti-national elements and go helter-skelter for them. They may survive today but we will get them tomorrow. Our relentless operations will continue.”
