Army, police launch operation to check Kashmir robberies, killings

A massive combing operation was launched in south Kashmir on Thursday following a spree of bank robberies and killing of policemen, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said here.

"It is a regular operation. Every day we do it. There is nothing new. There has been bank loots and policemen have been killed. It is just to make sure that the situation is brought under control," Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of an army function.

The Army Chief was asked about the crackdown by security forces in at least 20 villages of south Kashmir's Shopian district searching for militants involved in recent terror attacks and bank robberies.

Replying to questions about India's possible response to the killing of two soldiers and mutilation of their bodies by Pakistan Army, Gen Rawat parried a direct answer.

"Such responses keep happening. We also take counter measures. There is nothing new in it."

He said the Army was taking steps to check cross-border infiltration of militants from Pakistan.

"Terrorists are trying to infiltrate. Summer months have started and snow is melting. But we have counter-infiltration forces to take care of the problem of infiltration."