Drone threat to major installations discussed
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen Bipin Rawat today reviewed situation along the Line of Control (LoC) in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri where fresh ceasefire agreement is in force between the Indo-Pak troops since February 25 this year but two major infiltration attempts were foiled by the troops in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors recently in which a total of four militants were killed while two soldiers attained martyrdom.
Gen Rawat, who reached here yesterday, visited several forward locations in Rajouri and Poonch districts along with top Army Commanders and reviewed situation as well as operational preparedness of the troops with local commanders.
The Chief of Defence Staff visited forward points in Rajouri and Poonch where India shares LoC with Pakistan which was quite tense with regular ceasefire violations from Pakistan till February 25 when Indo-Pak troops reached fresh ceasefire agreement on LoC and International Border.
No major ceasefire violation has been reported from Pakistan side since latest agreement. However, two infiltration attempts were successfully foiled by the Indian troops in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors of Rajouri district recently.
In Sunderbani sector, Army gunned down three hardcore Pakistani militants while two Army jawans were martyred in the operation. In Nowshera, one infiltrator was killed and two soldiers were injured.
Sources said the Chief of Defence Staff called for strict surveillance all along the LoC as ceasefire agreement notwithstanding the Pakistan army could facilitate infiltration attempts by the militants.
According to sources, it wasn’t clear whether Pakistan army had facilitated the Nowshera and Sunderbani infiltration attempts or not. However, as per sources, it wasn’t possible for the militants to reach close to the LoC on Pakistan side and intrude into the Indian territory without support of Pakistani troops.
Yesterday, Gen Bipin Rawat had visited Indian Air Force base at Satwari in Jammu district where twin drone terror strikes took place in the wee hours of June 27 which were the first of its kind not only in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir but entire country. Two Indian Air Force personnel were injured while minor damage was caused to the building.
After IAF base terror strikes, several drones were sighted flying above military installations at Kaluchak, Ratnuchak and Kunjwani but had returned. A day before, the BSF fired at Pakistani drone in Arnia sector forcing it to fly back.
Sources said Gen Bipin Rawat is also reported to have reviewed the preparedness of troops to counter drone attacks from Pakistan as well as militants on the military installations. It may be mentioned here that the security agencies are in advanced stage of installation of anti-drone technology.
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