Additional security forces, both BSF and Army, have been rushed to the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border in Kashmir following specific ground level reports and wireless intercepts of subversive elements revealing a sharp increase in the number militants holed up in the area waiting to cross over.
Highly-placed security sources here revealed that the reinforcements were rushed to intensify patrolling in the “worst-affected sectors” of Uri, Poonch, Rajouri and Mendher where the number of militants waiting to infiltrate had increased from 350 to about 500 in a matter of weeks.
Top security officials are of the view that the mobilisation of forces was warranted due to the sudden swelling in the number of militants close to the LoC and the border and this was a clear indication that the Pakistan Army was planning to step up activity in the region. This, official said, indicates that the number of ceasefire violations by the Pak Army will increase sharply in the days to come primarily to provide cover to the infiltrating terrorists. Incidentally, a BSF jawan was critically injured in heavy firing by Pakistani troops in the Poonch region early today. With the onset of winter season in the Valley the Pak Army is desperately trying to push in more militants.
Thus additional security forces have been deployed all along the LoC and the border to intensify patrolling. All border outposts have been told to strictly follow the standard operating procedures and avoid any laxity as the probability of Pak Army resorting to covert operations along the border is “very high”. While confirming the development a senior security official told this newspaper, “We have incre-ased the number of personnel in a patrolling team in addition to deploying more men on frontal border outposts. There are reports that Pak Army assisted by the terror groups were planning to increase their activities in the region.”
The message to border guarding forces is also clear that any firing or ceasefire violation from Pakistani side should be dealt with increased intensity.