Srinagar:Four hundred militants have been killed in gunfights during the tenure of Vijay Kumar (IPS) as Inspector General of police Kashmir zone. With the killing of one Hizb militant in Shopian, the militants killed during Kumar’s tenure as IGP Kashmir stands at 400.
The 1997 Batch IPS officer took charge as Kashmir Police Chief on 30 December 2019, replacing Swayam Parkash Pani (IPS).
Officials said his first posting was as SDPO Ganderbal. Later he remained as SP SOG Pulwama, SP Awantipora, SP Kulgam, SP Kupwara, SP Vigilance, DIG Traffic Kashmir and. DIG South Kashmir Range Anantnag. Before abrogation of Article 370, he was repatriated from central deputation prematurely and posted as IGP Armed Kashmir. Earlier Kumar was also posted as Inspector General of Police Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) in CRPF, a specialized paramilitary force which has been raised for jungle warfare in maoist infested areas.
Last year alone, 171 militants were killed along with 34 civilians, and 29 police and personnel from other uninformed forces.
89 encounters took place in which out of which 150 local militants and 21 foreigners were killed last year.
The IGP Kashmir told reporters last year that almost all the top commanders of the militant group were killed in 2021 while only a few were left. “Almost all the long-term surviving militants have been killed,” he had said. (GNS)
