Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 16: Amidst escalating tensions on borders with Pakistan, new Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 20 for high-level review of security situation along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) with Pakistan as well as `Operation All Out’ launched by Army in the Valley to flush out militants.
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This will be first visit of first full-time woman Defence Minister to Jammu and Kashmir after taking over charge of the Defence Ministry early this month.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Rangers tonight resorted to heavy shelling targeting Arnia town, injuring three civilians, one of them seriously and causing damage to houses, cattle sheds etc. The BSF was responding very effectively.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Sitharaman would visit 16 Corps Headquarters in Srinagar in the morning of September 20, where she would review security situation on the borders with Pakistan and China with top Commanders of the Army. She would also review progress of ‘Operation All Out” against the militants in the Valley in which top militant commanders have been eliminated.
Accompanied by Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat, the Defence Minister would visit Bhimber Gali (BG) sector in Poonch and Rajouri districts, where ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops have become quite frequent but were being retaliated very effectively by the Indian Army.
She would be briefed on situation prevailing on the LoC in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri by the Army Commanders, where India has inflicted heavy casualties and damages on Pakistan in retaliatory firing. After LoC, she would visit Akhnoor Brigade.
Prior to that, sources said, the Army chief would also visit Jammu and Kashmir on September 18.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Rangers started heavy mortar shelling targeting Arnia town and adjacent villages at 9.30 pm.
Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Surinder Choudhary told the Excelsior from the spot that three injured civilians were evacuated from the site of shelling and shifted to the Government Medical College, Jammu. He said condition of 65 years old Maya Devi wife of Behari Lal R/o Ward No. 5, Arnia was critical.
Two other injured have been identified as Rajni Kumar, 35, wife of Raj Kumar and her 12 year old son Shubam Kumar R/o Ward No. 4.
Sources shells several mortar shells landed in Arnia town and adjoining border villages.
Last night also, Pakistani Rangers targeted BSF posts and civilian population at Sei, Treva, Sei Khurd and Jabowal villages in Arnia sector killing three cattle and causing serious injuries to three others. Two houses, three cattle sheds and a religious place were damaged in Pakistan shelling and firing.
The BSF retaliated effectively at all the places inflicting more damages on Pakistan but the details were not available immediately.
Reports said that Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) ‘Sniper Brigade’ has mixed up with Pakistan army and Rangers and they were targeting the forward Army and BSF posts on the Line of Control as well as International Border.
Intercepts revealed that Pakistani militants Muzamil, who has specially been trained by Pakistan army in sniping incidents, was leading Lashkar Brigade of sharp shooters on LoC while his associates have been deployed on the IB. They were using Dragnov Sniper Rifle, a Russian made weapon with an effective range of 800 meters to target Army and BSF personnel.
Another sharp shooter Rizwan has also been spotted on the International Border on Pakistan side with heavy sniper rifle of British origin, the inputs revealed.
However, sources said, the Indian Army and BSF were fully equipped and prepared to meet with any kind of situation developing on LoC and IB especially to meet the sniping incidents. They added that some of the sharp shooters of Lashkar-e-Toiba have been eliminated by the troops along with Pakistan army personnel.
Meanwhile, people living on the border areas of Arnia, RS Pura and surroundings remained panicky following fresh mortar shelling and firing last night by the Pakistani Rangers and confined themselves to houses during most part of the day anticipating that Pakistan could resort to mischief anytime.
Authorities have already put the Contingency Plan in place to meet with any kind of situation on the borders by designating Government buildings as relief camps if the people migrate from forward areas. However, so far there has been no migration to the camps though some people have left to safer areas in the houses of their relatives and friends after the mortar shelling.
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