Security forces killed 311 terrorists in Kashmir in 2018, says top Army Commander

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Dec 31 (ANI): As many as 311 terrorists were killed in Kashmir in 2018, Commander of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen Anil Bhatt said on Monday as the year drew to a close.
Gen Bhatt, former Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), said the high success in eliminating terrorists was due to complete synergy between the Army, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Paramilitary forces besides the freedom given to the forces to operate.
Speaking to ANI after his troops foiled a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) attack in Naugam sector of Kashmir and killed two intruders, he said: “Till December 31 morning, security forces have been successful in neutralising 311 terrorists in our area of operation."
The killed terrorists included top commanders, he said.
Additionally, he said 58 terrorists were arrested and five surrendered during the year.
In the past few years, the Army killed over 200 terrorists every year on an average. In 2018, the number of terrorists killed has increased.
Gen Bhatt said the major successes have been achieved by the forces despite long intervals in intensive operations due to the unilateral ceasefire declared by the forces during the Ramzan and their deployment during the Amarnath Yatra.
"The synergy between the forces is at all levels. We can see complete coordination from the top to the operational level where the commanders are interacting and coordinating their actions," the top army commander said.
He said the troops are carrying out operations with complete freedom as they know that the top leadership would back them fully in all right actions and operations.
This could be seen last year when Army Chief General Bipin Rawat backed Major Leetul Gogoi, who had tied an alleged stone-pelter to his jeep's bonnet to protect his men and other civilian staff under his responsibility from other stone-pelters.
The Srinagar-based 15 Corps is the main force responsible for the anti-terrorist operations in the Kashmir Valley with a significant contribution coming from the Jammu-based 16 Corps which looks after the operations in the Jammu area. (ANI)