NEW DELHI: Border Security Force Director General Prakash Singh has expressed concern over the “gradual infiltration of foreign mercenaries” in Kashmir militancy.
Speaking to Presspersons here on Nov, .26, he alleged that the mercenaries were coming from West Asian nations and were being roped on the “plea that Islam was in danger in India.”
Singh said in 1993, 23 foreign nationals have been killed by BSF so far. Of them 15 were Afghans, four from Pakistan, one each from Egypt and Sudan, Apart from those killed, five foreign insurgents were also apprehended.
On the Hazratbal shrine siege, he refuted charges that the BSF Intelligence was found wanting.““There was no failure on our part,” he said, The morale of the militants has touched an all-time low after the Hazratbal surrender, he added.
Singh said the BSF men have been fully instructed not to violate human rights in the valley, whenever instances of violation were reported, and action was taken against the offender. Singh said 204 human rights cases were registered against the BSF personnel in 1993.
He informed that in 39 cases suomotu punishment was awarded to the personnel. Of the 66 cases where punishment was meted out, nine men were given Rigorous imprisonment in civil Jail; three were dismissed from service, 30 were awarded RI in force custody, 1] were placed under suspension and departmental action was initiated against 13.
He said the BSF had killed 332 militants in 1993 of which 38 were prominent ones. These included Zulkhar Nain, Sajjad Mir, Akbar Bhai, Hamid Khan and Ghulam Mohiuddin. Asmany as 1566 militants had been arrested.
The BSF chief described the year 1993 as a “difficult one” for the force, with its share of trials, turbulations, glories and controversies.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 3, 1993
