Stating that handlers from across the border “controlled Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) militants” behind the Sunjuwan Army camp attack in Jammu, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said Pakistan would pay for the misadventure.
“Pakistan will pay for this adventure. It will pay for its adventurism ... I assure the nation that the sacrifices [of those killed in the attack] will not go in vain. We will continue to thwart any attempt by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists to spread violence and take necessary action through a counter-terrorism strategy,” Ms. Sitharaman said after meeting senior Army officials and enquiring about the injured in Jammu.
She also met Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
Ms. Sitharaman said the JeM of the Pakistan-based Masood Azhar was behind the attack.
“Our intelligence inputs indicate these terrorists were controlled by their handlers from across the border. The evidence is being scrutinised by the National Investigation Agency, which shall soon furnish a detailed report,” she said.
She hinted at local support to the terrorists who “may have infiltrated some time ago”. “The demography of the cantonment and the adjoining areas indicates the possibility of local support to the terrorists,” the Union Minister said.
She said the alert sentries and quick reaction teams were able to avert “the terrorist attempt at a coordinated attack”.
Alert issued
“There was an alert. The terrorists, scattered after the brief exchange of fire, rushed towards the family quarters and occupied some of the accommodation blocks and were isolated. Since the terrorists were in battle fatigues, the Army dedicatedly moved ahead to avoid any collateral damage,” she said.
The Army, she said, evacuated families from 28 blocks and 189 flats, “ which was time-consuming.” She denied the possibility of a fourth terrorist still hiding. “The fourth terrorist may have been a guide and may not have entered the premises,” she said. “The operation has been called off.”
Pak. Army covering terrorists
She said Pakistan was expanding “an arc of terror to the areas south of the Pir Panchal ranges and resorting to ceasefire violations to assist the infiltration”.
“These are being responded appropriately. In fact, infiltration has ebbed to a great extent due to anti-infiltration obstacle system and the dynamic multi layered counter infiltration grid. The activities of terrorists in the hinterland are being severely curtailed due to the relentless efforts of the security forces,” she said.
However, the terrain configuration and snow conditions make it difficult to completely stop the infiltration, she added.
She said ₹1,487 crore has been allocated for additional sensors, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and long range surveillance devices, which will be deployed to cover the entire frontage of the LoC.
On FIR against Army Major
Refusing to comment on the case of Major Aditya, facing FIR in the Shopian firing case, the Union Minister said, “The Ministry of Defence, the Government of India and the country’s leadership will stand by the Army. It will not let anyone down.”
She said the Army was fighting enemy outside and at the same is under severe duress within.
“I am aware of amnesty to the first time stone offenders... I assure people of J&K and the entire country that the Army, the Central government and the State government is looking at it with very seriousness,” she said.
