Army chief rejects "clampdown," claim in Jammu Kashmir

The chief of Army staff General Bipin Rawat on Monday rejected claims of a clampdown in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that it was a facade put up by terrorists to project a false picture of "harsh measures" to the outside world.

In reality, the violence and killings were down and the terrorists were being kept at bay, he told reporters.

While communication lines are through for the people, there is a breakdown for handlers of terrorists in Pakistan and their associates in the valley, he said.

Also, arrangements are in place for the security forces to talk to their families and there is no communcation breakdown, he said.

Assuring further gradual easing of the situation, he said,"to say there is a clampdown, I don't agree with this."

Listing out a whole gamut of economic activities in the Kashmir valley, from movement of apple laden trucks to other parts of the country, operation of brick kilns and sand transportation through trucks after its procurement from the Jhelum .