Parrikar visits forward areas along LoC

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) to review the security situation and anti-infiltration measures.

On the second day of his visit, Parrikar was at forward areas in Rajouri-Poonch sector of Jammu region. Accompanied by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Northern Command Chief Lt Gen D S Hooda and 16 Corps commander Lt Gen K H Singh, the Defence Minister visited forward posts along the LoC in Hamirpur battalion sector, where he was briefed on the anti-infiltration measures by top commanders on the ground, Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

“Parrikar interacted with troops on LoC, took tea with and patted them for their alertness on the borderline. The GOC 16-Corps, Lt Gen Singh briefed the Defence Minister on the security situation along the border line and in-depth areas in South of Pir Panchal ranges in Jammu region,” he added.

Lt Gen Singh also briefed Parrikar on the threat perception and how it manifests in the border areas, counter infiltration methodology and counter IED measures besides various ‘Sadhbhavana’ projects undertaken by Army for civil population, the spokesman said. After the visit, the Defence Minister left for Trikuta hills and paid obeisance at the Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. He later returned to Delhi.