Tension prevails along Indo-Pak border

 Tension today prevailed along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir where Army was on alert after repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops.

"The borderline with Pakistan is tense. But the situation is under control (along Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir)", an Army official said today.

The level of tension has increased after Pakistani troops violated ceasefire continuously and also closed the gates for cross-LoC trade yesterday.

The Army is maintaining utmost vigilance along the borderline with Pakistan, he said, adding troops have been asked to remain alert round-the-clock.

"There was no ceasefire violations along Indo-Pak border this morning," Defence spokesman Col R K Palta said.

However, Pakistan troops had violated ceasefire and fired mortars shells and small arms on Indian posts along LoC in Krishnagati sector of Poonch district from 5 PM to 9.30 PM yesterday, the spokesman said.
Indian troops guarding the borderline effectively retaliated resulting in exchanges, he said, adding that there was no casualty or injury to any one in the firing on the Indian side.

Pakistani troops had fired at nine posts -- Chatri, Atma, Helmet, Prakash, Chatyal, Khera-I, Khera-II, Roshni and Gunhill posts in the sector from its posts Kanal, Barmoch, Jungle-1, Jungle-2, Dhamas, Prench, New post, Daruchiymia, Teer, LP-1, LP-2 and LP-3.

Yesterday's ceasefire was the third ceasefire violation by Pakistan troops along Poonch sector after they intruded into Indian territory and killed two jawans.

On January 8, Pakistan troops had violated the ceasefire twice after brutally killings Lance Naiks, Hemraj and Sudhakar Singh.

In the wake of the incident, Army and BSF have reviewed the security set up along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.

The security situation has been reviewed at a high-level meeting at Rajouri-based headquarters of 25 Infantry Division headed by 16 Corps Commander, Lt Gen D S Hooda.

Gen Hooda has visited the forward areas and met field commanders, who briefed him about the situation and security set up along Indo-Pak border.

Security review has been made and vigilance has been mounted (along Indo-Pak border), Deputy GOC, 25 Infantry Div, Brig J K Tiwari had said.

Northern Command Chief Lt Gen K T Parnaik had visited the forward areas and was briefed about the incident during his visit to Poonch sector on January 8.

"We face challenging situation along the border-- the area is difficult and we are always cautious and vigilant" Brig Tiwari had said.

BSF had put in place a winter strategy to deal with infiltration and Poonch-like raids by the Pakistani troops along the International Border (IB) in Jammu-Kathua sector.

"After taking into consideration the incidents that have taken place in the last 5-6 months, we have put in place a winter strategy to deal with such a situation", IG, BSF, Jammu frontier, Rajeev Krishna had said on Wednesday.

"We have activated the strategy after taking into all account all such incidents", he had said, adding vulnerable and strategic points have been identified including border outposts and security strengthen.

"We have put in place anti-fog devices and surveillance devices apart from manual patrolling in this difficult weather conditions along the border", he said.

Lt General Parnaik has briefed Governor N N Vohra over the killings.    It is likely that a further meeting in this
regard will take place between the Governor and the Army Commander in the next few days.