People moving around freely in J&K: General Rawat

The Army had on Tuesday released aerial photos and a video captioned ‘loading of apples, work in progress in fields and people moving on with life’ in Jammu and Kashmir

ARMY chief General Bipin Rawat reaffirmed on Wednesday that people were moving around freely in the Kashmir Valley and those claiming that there was a shutdown were the ones whose survival depended on terrorism. He was interacting with reporters after presenting President’s colours to 29th and 30th battalions of the Punjab Regiment here. “Normal life in Jammu and Kashmir has not been affected. People are doing their necessary work, a clear sign that work has not been stopped and people are freely moving around. Those who feel that life has been affected are the ones whose survival depends on terrorism,” he said. Rawat said that brick kilns were functioning normally, trucks were transporting sand and shops were open, reflecting that life was normal in the Valley.

The Army chief deflected a question about whether there was tension along the Line of Control, saying people were facing trouble because of Tuesday’s earthquake in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake had hit PoK on Tuesday, killing at least 26 people and injuring over 300 others. The Army had on Tuesday released aerial photos and a video captioned ‘loading of apples, work in progress in fields and people moving on with life’ in Jammu and Kashmir. Restrictions, particularly with regard to communications, are in force in several parts of the Valley since August 5, the day the Centre stripped the state of its Special Status and decided to reorganise it into two Union Territories.

Rawat had on Monday rejected claims of a clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that it was a facade put up by terrorists to project a false picture of ‘harsh measures’ to the outside world. In reality, violence and killings were down and terrorists were being kept at bay, he had said in Chennai, insisting while communication lines were through for people, there was a breakdown for handlers of terrorists in Pakistan and their associates in the Valley.

ARMY chief General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said that it was a privilege for him to have got an opportunity to address personnel of Punjab Regiment, the oldest regiment of Indian Army. He was here for presenting President’s colours to 29th and 30th battalions of the regiment. It had even taken part in overseas operations in the 19th century, an Army statement said. The Punjab Regiment was also a part of the UNs Peace Keeping Missions in SL, Lebanon and Congo.

While Lieutenant Preetpal Singh received the President’s colours on behalf of the 29th battalion of the regiment, Lieutenant Kishan Goraiya received it on behalf of 30th battalion from the Army chief. The President’s colours comprise a flag of a specific design given to infantry battalions, which is a symbol that embodies the spirit of those who serve under them as a regiment, the statement said. The Punjab Regimental Centre was first raised at Loralai in 1915, subsequently moved to Multan in 1922, then to Meerut in 1929 and finally to its present location at Ramgarh in 1976, statement said.