Jammu, July 24 — Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar said on Friday that even though terrorist acts have drastically come down in Jammu and Kashmir, it is still a "challenge" for security forces in the Union Territory.
His reaction came after Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was shot by a terrorist from close range while on patrolling duty in the Union Territory's Anantnag.
Speaking to IANS, Indresh Kumar said: "Slowly, Jammu and Kashmir is becoming free from terrorism. I would like to congratulate the government, the Army, and society for this. However, some isolated incidents and violent incidents are still taking place. These are very sad, and no amount of condemnation is enough for them."
"Such violence is a sign of cowardice. It is also a sign of cruelty. Therefore, whoever has carried out such acts...somewhere it also reflects their weakness," he added.
He said that curbing such terrorists' acts is a "challenge" for the security forces as well as the society.
"Freeing the Union Territory of such acts of terror, especially the Kashmir Valley, is a challenge for the region. But I have full confidence, that since such a drastic fall in terrorism has been witnessed...a day will come when the entire Jammu and Kashmir will be freed of terrorism," the RSS leader asserted.
He also said that while the terrorists tried to create a lot of fear, "the people of the country have shown that they are not scared and they will never be so".
Responding to a question over recent police crackdown on protesters in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Indresh Kumar said: "In Pakistan, there is severe oppression even against Pakistanis themselves. Therefore, Pakistan is on the verge of breaking apart because of its own actions. In 1971, it had already broken. After that, today Balochistan, and the people of Sindh are also continuously struggling to separate from it."
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday visited the family of the slain Head Constable.
Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi was killed on the spot, as doctors in the hospital said he had been brought dead to the hospital.
The police launched an aggressive manhunt to trace the assailant, whose picture was circulated for the general public to identify and report his presence.