Desperate attempt by militants to disrupt elections: COAS General Dalbir Singh Suhag

SRINAGAR: Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh Suhag today said the attack on Uri camp in north Kashmir's Baramulla district was a desperate attempt by militants to disrupt the democratic process in the state.

"It appears a desperate attempt to disrupt the third phase of elections. I assure the nation that these elements will not be allowed to succeed in disrupting the democratic process," he told reporters here.

Gen Suhag, who arrived here this morning, also paid tributes to the slain security force personnel by laying wreaths on their coffins at a sombre ceremony at Badamibagh Cantonment here.

He paid tributes to the slain soldiers, which included an officer of the Lt Colonel rank, saying their sacrifice will not go waste.

"I salute the brave soldiers who laid down their lives in the line of duty. Their sacrifice will not go waste. In fact, it will inspire each of us," he added.

The Army chief reviewed the security situation in the state in the wake of the Uri attack that left 11 security force personnel dead, and other militancy-related incidents that saw two Lashkar-e-Toiba militants getting killed in an encounter in Srinagar while two civilians also lost their lives in a grenade blast in Tral town of south Kashmir.

The Army Chief was brief by the top army officers of the Chinar Corps about the counter-insurgency and counter- infiltration measures in place.