New Delhi: Army Chief General Bipin Rawat has termed stone pelters as terrorists in connection with the death of a soldier due to getting hit by stones in Anantnag, Kashmir. After paying tribute to soldiers on 72nd Infantry Day, General Rawat said, “The jawan who lost his life after being attacked by stone-pelters was guarding a border roads team, which was constructing roads. And then we have some people saying don’t treat stone-pelters like over ground workers of terrorists.” Strict action will be taken against stone-pelters for attacking soldiers, he said.
Srinagar: Wreath laying ceremony of CISF ASI Rajesh Kumar who lost his life after terrorists lobbed a grenade on him when he was deployed for security of a power grid at Wagoora Nowgam in Srinagar, late last night. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/vpzZS6DJUf
— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2018
Moreover, General Rawat said that Pakistan is trying to “stall development” in Jammu and Kashmir by “using terror to keep the pot boiling”. The army chief quoted that “Pakistan is fully aware that they can never succeed… terror is another way by them to keep the pot boiling. They want to stall development in Kashmir but the Indian state is strong enough to counter everything, and we are fully capable of carrying out different operations,”. He added that “Pakistan is engaged in a proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir and infiltration is being continued by them. Terror camps are being operated and are being supported by the Pakistani army,”.
The soldier named Sepoy Rajendra Singh was part of a Quick Reaction Team that was guarding a Border Roads Organisation convoy on October 25 on NH-44. Few men threw stones at the vehicles and Singh was hit on his head. He later lost his life at the hospital.