Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, June 1: The Army said today that an all weather fencing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir could be a possibility soon as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) experts was on the job. It added that the Army would be positioning at least two battalions for security of Amarnath yatris along the National Highways and other vintage points especially on the heights.
Notwithstanding series of infiltration attempts on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, the Army maintained that it hadn’t allowed any such bid to succeed despite all odds.
Speaking exclusively to the Excelsior on the sidelines of a function organised to celebrate Raising Day of 16 Corps today, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 16 Corps Lt Gen DS Hooda said there is a proposal before the MHA for an all weather fence on the LoC to completely plug the infiltration routes, which were used by the militants to sneak-in when the fence was damaged due to heavy snowfall.
He said the MHA had set up a team of experts including engineers to examine feasibility of all weather fencing, which should withstand 20 feet to 40 feet snowfall, which was witnessed during snowfall in the winter in some parts of the State.
In response to a question, the Nagrota Corps Commander was of the view that the all weather fence could take sometime as the engineers and other experts had to do a lot of job. However, he said, the all weather fence could prove useful, one constructed.
“The construction part could be a tough task as it had to be raised at the places which received snowfall as high as 20 to 40 feet during the winter,’’ Lt Gen Hooda said.
Worthwhile to mention here that the MHA had mooted a proposal for an all weather fence along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in snow bound areas to keep the fencing intact even in the heavy snowfall to prevent infiltration of the militants.
The snowfall generally damaged fencing at many places during the months of infiltration giving the militants a chance to intrude into this side.
The Union Home Ministry had already consulted representatives from the IIT, Central Public Works Department, National Buildings Construction Corporation and Army’s Engineering Corps to ascertain the feasibility of having fencing that can endure heavy snow falls and avalanches.
Lt Gen Hooda said the Army would be deploying two battalions for security and protection of Amarnath pilgrims on the National Highways of Jammu-Pathankot and Jammu-Srinagar besides other vintage points.
“We would be deploying two battalions of Army on the National Highways and other sensitive areas. We have already made an assessment of the situation for the upcoming 55 days long pilgrims. The Highways and other sensitive heights would be fully manned,’’ he said, adding that though there was no specific input the threat perception always remained there.
He said the Army, other security agencies and police have made detailed assessment of the situation for Amarnath yatra and would be making fool-proof security arrangements for the pilgrimage.
The 55-days long yatra to Shri Amarnath ji shrine is starting on June 28 and would culminate on August 21. In addition to Army, para-military forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police would be involved in security of the pilgrims.
The White Knight Corps Commander, in response to a question of inquiry into the killing of two Army soldiers at Mankote in Mendhar sector on January 8 this year, one of whom was beheaded, said: “an inquiry was definitely conducted into the incident’’.
“Every incident is inquired into. Inquiry was held into this incident also. We take necessary steps on the basis of inquiry,’’ he said.
Pakistan Army jawans had intruded into this side of the LoC at Mankote in Mendhar sector on January 8 and brutally killed two Army soldiers, one of whom was beheaded and his head was taken away to Pakistan.
On recent incident at Sabjian in Poonch district in which four Army porters were intercepted and identity cards of two of them were snatched along with milk containers and other items, the Corps Commander said: “those who had intercepted the porters were militants and not Pakistan Army regular’’.
“The necessary steps have been taken to check such incidents,’’ he added.
Lt Gen Hooda said no successful infiltration has been reported on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch for the past quite sometime.
“The militants did try to intrude into this side from the LoC but troops thwarted their plot,’’ he said, adding the terrorists could make some more bids during summer but “we are fully prepared to foil their designs.
The Corps Commander asserted that Army was maintaining a high alert on the LoC.
He said there were 200 to 250 militants across the LoC, who were awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side.
“The militants are there. They are waiting across the LoC. They will definitely try to infiltrate but our troops wouldn’t allow them to sneak-in,’’ Lt Gen Hooda said.
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