SECTION 3 - (CHAPTER 10)
STATEMENT RE SITUATION IN JAMMU & KASHMIR
Lok Sabha on 23 August, 1965
Since I made the statement in Parliament on 16th, our efforts to hunt out and mop up the infiltrators have been vigorously continued and we have achieved considerable success in these directions.
One of the important achievements was the recapture by our forces of the three posts across the Kargil area. These posts had been occupied by us in May, but later evacuated on assurances received from the United Nations Secretary General that observers would be posted in the area and raids on our line of communication with Leh would cease. Unfortunately, these assurances were belied and attempts were made again to interfere with our line of communication. It was, therefore, necessary to occupy them again.
A notable feature of the operations in J & K , has been the strong support given by Pakistani regular forces to the infiltrators who are on our side of the Cease Fire Line. In the Chhamb sector, as also in the Tithwal sector, Pakistan moved up regiments of artillery and started heavy firing on our posts. This was particularly so in the Chhamb sector where a continuous barrage was resorted to try and dislodge us from our posts along the Cease Fire Line and to relieve the pressure on infiltrators who had been hard pressed by our security forces. The result of the battle has not been according to Pakistan’s desires. All the attacks of Pakistan have been repulsed. Heavy casualities have been inflicted on them and we have maintained our position all along the Cease Fire Line. The Pakistani infiltrators have suffered considerable losses and 48 dead bodies have been picked up by us after the battle. I dare say many more have actually been killed and wounded on the Pakistani side. Unfortunately, because of the artillery firing from the other side, an Indian Brigadier in this area lost his life.
In other Sectors and lately again in the Chhamb Sector, desultory firing continues across the Cease Fire line. In the valley we have stepped up mopping up operations and, for sometime now, there have been no incidents of any importance. The infiltrators have either been split up into smaller groups or have been driven back to the periphery of the valley. In many cases they have been pursued and ambushed. As a result many of them have been killed, wounded and captured and substantial quantities of arms and ammunition seized. These are indications to show that some groups of raiders, who had been badly mauled and demoralised, have retreated across the Cease Fire Line and some are in the process of doing so. On the other hand, some fresh infiltrators have been reported and sizable groups are still poised on the other side of the Cease Fire Line. These are backed by regular troops and our security forces have the triple task of protecting the Cease Fire Line, preventing further infiltration and liquidating the infiltrators. I think our operations have to take account of the fact that about 3,000 to 5,000 infiltrators would still have to be dealt with in the J & K area.
A necessary corollary of tie fighting in J & K particularly near the Cease Fire Line is the movement of civil population from areas near the scenes of firing to safer places. This has particularly been the case in the areas near the Cease Fire Line in the Jammu Division. This is inevitable when fighting flares up, involving hardship to the people. The movement has been accelerated by the atrocities committed by the infiltrators on unarmed innocent people in these villages. In the valley there has been a much smaller movement from villages where infiltrators have resorted to arson etc., but quite a few of them have returned to their homes. Necessary steps for relief of such population are being taken by the J K Government with the support of the Central Government. The Minister for Rehabilitation has himself also made a visit to the State.
The infiltrators definitely killed by us now total 374, including six officers. In additions, about 400 casualties are estimated to have been inflicted. We have also captured 95. On our side 89 Army personnel have been killed, including 8 officers and 2 Junior Commissioned officers. 29 Police personnel have also lost their lives in fighting the infiltrators.