Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 12: Militants have concentrated themselves across Mendhar and Mankote sectors along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district, official reports have revealed.
They said the security agencies have sounded that militants were strengthening their positions in forward areas of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) opposite Mendhar and Mankote sectors for the past one week and could make attempts to infiltrate into the Indian territory.
Reports said the militants have been trying to hide themselves in the launching pads close to Pakistan Army camps across Mendhar and Mankote sectors presently and could try to intrude into this side during the winter months.
However, the Army troops have been maintaining high alert along the LoC already aware of such tactics of Pakistan Army and militants.
Sources said the troops were aware that Pakistan militants would try to infiltrate into the Indian territory from the LoC during harsh winter especially in the foggy nights when visibility becomes very poor. Troops have, however, installed the devices along the LoC to maintain visibility during fog.
Sources said the militants gathering across the LoC were mainly affiliated to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits and majority of them were Pakistani cadre of the two outfits.
“Definitely, they would make attempts to cross over to this side during winter or thereafter. The militants had always been there at the launching pads. However, their numbers kept on changing. During past few days, the number of such militants has gone up,” sources said.
They added that the security agencies have not only been keeping a strict vigil on the LoC but also across the LoC to monitor movement of the militants.
“We have been monitoring movement on all sides-be it the LoC or across the LoC. This has to be done to ensure that there was no successful infiltration of the militants from Pakistan,” sources said.
They pointed out that the militants camping across the LoC have settled themselves close to the Army camps, which indicated that Pakistan Army could support the militants as and when the ultras tried to intrude into this side.
Army has already placed its all equipments in place along the LoC as a part of winter strategy to thwart game plan of the militants to enter into this side.
Anti-fog devices were also being used on the LoC to see to it that the militants didn’t manage to take advantage of foggy weather conditions.
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