JANDIALAGURU (AMRITSAR): Brig A.J.BJaini, Commander, No 2 sector, Rashtriya Rifles, has claimed that the Army launched two successful operations in Punjab codenamed OP Rakshak1 and OP RakshakII, which were aimed at assisting the government in eliminating militancy in the state.
Addressing a press conference here last week, he said the army had performed various roles during these operations, including joint operations with police and paramilitary forces.
He claimed that militants were largely misguided youth and the Army always aimed at avoiding unwanted bloodshed.
The prime aim of the civic actions has been to remove the fear of the gun from the hearts of people and to build confidence.
The Rashtriya Rifles was deployed in the Amritsar border range comprising five police disquiets of Amritsar, Tam Taran, Majitha, Batala and Gurdaspur. Responding to a question, he said the army was not a party lo any fake encounter. Brigadier Jaini stated that since the start of these operations, the Army participated in 281 encounters in which 476 militants were killed and 172 apprehended, Weapons seized from the militants totaled 895. Twenty-two Army men had been conferred bravery awards, he said_ He further stated that the Amy had trained 559 SPOs and 24 IPS probationers in 1992 and 1993. Brigadier Jaini stated that during the civic action program, four villages were adopted while 13 unit level medical camps, six integrated medical polyclinics, two ¢ye camps and nine veterinary camps were organized.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 3, 1993
