Combing operation in South Kashmir to control recent bank loots, attacks on cops: Army Chief

The Indian Army on Thursday launched a massive anti-terror operation in the wake of rising incident of bank robberies, cash van robberies and snatching of rifles in Jammu and Kashmir.

The security forces cordon off more than 20 villages of Kashmir's Shopian district and began search operations.

"Today's combing operation (in Kashmir) is to make sure that situation is brought under control, post recent incidents," Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat told media on Thursday. "Banks have been looted, policemen have been killed. That is why today's combing operation is taking place," he informed. 

Army Chief further added, "Terrorists are going to attempt infiltration, snows are melting, summer months started so like each year infiltration will commence. We are



taking measures, have beefed up our counter-infiltration posture to take care of the situation.

On Tuesday, the militants had snatched five rifles from police guards posted at the Shopian district court complex in south Kashmir, police had informed.The militants attacked the guard room of the court complex around 9PM and snatched five self-loading rifles (SLRs) from the policemen posted there.

All the five policemen were suspended for the alleged dereliction of duty as they offered no resistance when the militants looted their weapons, they had said.

On Monday, the terrorists had killed seven people, including five policemen, after dragging them out of a vehicle carrying cash of a bank in Kulgam district of south Kashmir.