Army commander visiting LoC amid reports of increase in infiltration

SRINAGAR :  Amid reports of increase in infiltration by trained militants from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), GOC-in-C Northern Command Lt General Sanjiv Chachra is visiting the forward posts near the Line of Control (LoC) today to be briefed from the field commanders.
The visit will further boost the morale of the troops, who have successfully foiled infiltration attempts by militants since the routes reopened after snow melted on higher reaches, defence sources said.
They said Lt General Chachra, who arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit to Kashmir valley, was given a detailed information about the overall security situation in the Kashmir valley.
The visit is being considered significant as repeated attempts are being made from across the border to send more militants into the Valley before the infiltration routes are again closed due to snowfall.
Sources said though the troops guarding the LoC are already on high alert, but fresh tip-off, received from different field sources, are being issued to field commanders.
It was because of the alertness that troops foiled infiltration attempts, killing 18 militants near the LoC during the past two months, sources said, adding ten more militants were killed in other operations within the Kashmir valley.
Defence sources said intelligence inputs received from different agencies have confirmed that militants are still being trained in centres set up in the PoK.
A large number of trained militants are waiting in launch pads near the LoC to sneak into this side before the snowfall.
Sources said field commanders on the LoC will brief Lt Gen Chachar about the measures put in place to foil any infiltration bid by militants.
He is also scheduled to meet jawans deployed in forward posts to boost their morale further.
There was, however, no major violation of ceasefire since 2003 on the LoC and International border.
Lt Gen Chachra along with Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, GOC 15 Corps visited Rashtriya Rifles (RR) Sector Head Quarters in the hinterland.
He was briefed by the Commander on the prevailing security scenario in the Kashmir valley.
The GOC-in-C, Northern Command, called on Governor N N Vohra at Raj Bhavan, here last evening.
During their more than an hour long meeting, the Governor and the Northern Army Commander discussed issues relating to internal security management in the three regions of the State.
Lt Gen Chachra also briefed the Governor about various matters relating to external security management, both along the LoC and Line of Actual Control (LAC), the continuing attempts of infiltration from across the LoC and consequential concerns.
Lt Gen Singh was present during the meeting. (AGENCIES)