Free from flood rescue and relief operation, the army has shifted its focus to repair the damaged fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. A vast portion of the fence along the LoC was damaged in the recent flash floods in the state.
Sources told Deccan Herald that army faces an uphill task to restore and reinstall the damaged and washed away fencing along the LoC in Kupwara district of north Kashmir as it has to be completed before the last week of October when the upper parts of the Valley start receiving snowfall.
“Fencing in Kupwara sector has been washed away in patches in vast areas which is a major challenge for the army. The exact details of washed away or damaged fencing in Kupwara sector can’t be assessed as it was damaged in patches. However, the damage was extensive,” the sources said.
A senior army officer said that they were sure to complete the restoration work before the onset of winter.
“With the army free from rescue and relief operations, it has taken up the task of installing new fencing at washed away area and repair the damaged patches on the LoC in Kupwara sector and some other places,” he said.
The officer added that the army had intensified foot patrolling in all areas where fencing was damaged to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to take advantage to infiltrate into the Indian territory.
“Some infiltration attempts were made by the militants in Kupwara sector but they were foiled,” he said and added the army posts damaged in the area were also being repaired or established afresh.
Sources said in the backdrop of damages to the fencing, Pakistan army has reactivated several training camps for the militants across the border to train fresh militants and
try to push them into the Indian territory from both LoC and International Boundary.
“Hundreds of militants, mostly Pakistanis, are being trained in these camps and some of the already trained militants are being given advanced training in these camps.
Apart from Pakistan Army, the camps are being manned by Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen militant outfits,” they said.