"Pakistan is interfering in Kashmir and has direct role in what we call as proxy war in Kashmir and there is absolutely no doubt in it," General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-in-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen D S Hooda told reporters here. He was paying homage to the martyrs of Operation Vijay on the 17th Kargil Vijay Diwas at the historic War Memorial here.
"We have seen it everywhere.. along the borders. We have seen it in the matter in which the support is given to infiltrating groups. "We have seen how ceasefire violations have been used as a support to the people infiltrating into this side," Hooda said while replying to a question about Pakistan's role in current unrest and terrorism in Kashmir.
"In short, if there is an internal disturbance here, they will directly take advantage of it. "You have heard the statements of Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Toiba, trying to say that they are supporting whatever is happening in Kashmir," the Northern Command Chief said. He said "the support (from Pakistan) is not only moral but it is absolute physical and there is no doubt about it".
He also expressed concern over the increasing radicalisation of youth in Kashmir Valley.
"We have seen there is an increase in radicalisation mostly driven by social media and people are quite active on it," Hooda said, adding everyone at all levels has to put their heads together to reduce this trend.
Man dies in accident during clashes
Srinagar: A 61-year-old man died in a road accident during clashes in the city and 14 others were injured in action by security forces across Kashmir today even as protests erupted again in some areas after authorities lifted curfew from the entire Valley except Anantnag town.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Rajouri Kadal in the city, lost control of his scooty when he was caught in clashes between protesters and security forces in Eidgah area of the city, a police official said.
He said the retired government employee suffered head injuries after falling from the two-wheeler. He was rushed to SKIMS hospital Soura where he succumbed to his injuries.
Elsewhere in the city, people staged protest rallies in Jehnagir Chowk, Batamaloo, Gojwara and Eidgah against the recent civilian killings in action by security forces.
Police and CRPF personnel fired tearsmoke shells and crowd control weapons to break the rallies, resulting in injuries to eight persons, the official said. He said stone-pelting incidents took place in Chanapora and Natipora areas in the civil lines areas of the city but no injuries were reported.
In Anantnag district’s Malaknag area, protesters took to streets, leading to clashes with the law enforcing agencies, the official said. He said six persons were injured in the clashes.