Militants frustrated by high voter turnout in J-K: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

Pargwal border (Jammu): Militants want to create fear psychosis among people in Jammu and Kashmir as they are frustrated by the high voter turnout in the ongoing assembly elections, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said and hit out at Pakistan for abetting terror acts.

Singh campaigned for party candidates and addressed three public rallies in Darhal and Thanamandi in Rajouri district and Pargwal border belt of Jammu district.

"Militants are frustrated due to the overwhelming public support to BJP in ongoing elections and high voter turnout of 71-72 percent which they never had thought of," he told reporters here.

Terming Friday's attacks in Kashmir as most unfortunate, Singh said, "These (incidents) are going on for a long time."

He said the militants crossed from across the border and fired at the jawans and securitymen at a camp. "They killed some jawans but our forces were successful in giving them a befitting reply."

Militants stormed an Army camp in Uri in Baramulla district, killing 11 security personnel, including a Lt Col, and followed it up with multiple attacks in Srinagar, Tral and Shopian.

Hitting out at Pakistan, he said, "Militants are entering this country from Pakistan and resorting to death and destructions here."

The minister maintained that Pakistan soil is being used to aid and abet terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Is it not true that these terrorists get shelter on Pak soil but they always keep denying the fact", he said.

He asserted that Pakistan should also stop ceasefire violations and develop a heart-to-heart relationship with India.

"This is our desire. We want good relationship with our neighbours," Singh said and referred to former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's statement that friends can be changed but not neighbours.