Were 300 terrorists killed in the IAF air strikes in Balakot?
Here’s what IAF has to say.
New Delhi: As soon as the news of IAF’s airstrike on Jaish’s training camps across the border in Balakot went viral, media channels hurried and immediately concluded that over 300 terrorists were killed in the air strikes.
Various media channels citing their respective ‘sources’ went on to claim several figures and number claiming it to be the number of terrorists and trainees who were killed in the air strikes.
It started with 200 and went on up to 400 as hours passed by after the strikes. Many channels also reported that IAF ‘eliminated’ Maulana Yousuf Azhar, who is the brother-in-law of Masood Azhar, chief of terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed.
No official data or military sources were quoted all this while by any news channel.
However, according to a report published in News Laundry on Thursday, during the joint press conference of Indian Armed Forces, which had Army’s Major General Surindar Singh Mehal, Navy’s Rear Admiral Dalbir Singh Gujral and Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor of IAF, the officials refused to confirm the exact number of terrorists killed in the strikes.
According to the report, Ajit Dubey of ANI enquired about the number of terrorists killed. To which RGK Kapoor termed it ‘premature’ to give an exact figure.
“There is fairly credible evidence with us which proves that there was damage to the camps. The weapons hit the intended target and they caused the damage that was intended. However, it will be premature to say what is the number of causalities we have been able to inflict on those camps and what is the number of death” RGK Kapoor was quoted as saying.
This statement from the official ‘source’ has now raised questioned about the credibility of ‘sources’ of news channels and has also pitched the question of ‘where did the figure of 300-400 came from’?
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
