Srinagar, May 08: Terming the recent stepped up militant attacks on security camps and vital installations in Kashmir as "acts of desperation", Inspector General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), G M Srivastava, today said foreign militants were behind the attacks even as local people were yearning for peace. "Frustrated by the erosion of public support to militancy in the valley, foreign ultras are indulging in acts of desperation to keep the pot of militancy boiling and to create panic among the people", Srivastava told reporters at a function here today.
He said the way people participated in the last assembly elections demonstrated they want peace to return in the state.
Srivastava said the initiatives set in motion by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee during his recent Kashmir visit was progressing well and hopefully, the process would usher in an era of peace in the state.
The number of misguided people in Kashmir has come down as the masses have realised that violence is going to take them nowhere. "People are fed up with violence as it is the foreign mercenaries who are running the show (militancy) in the valley", he said.
Reacting to chemical weapons reportedly acquired by the militants, the CRPF chief said ultras have not used chemical weapons as of yet. But there are no borders for them and they can go to any extent. However, security forces were fully geared up to drive out foreign militants from Indian soil, he said.
"Let them use whatever they have but security forces are determined to root out militancy from the state", he said. Bureau Report