Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 20: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps Lt Gen RR Nimbhorkar today held high level review of escalated tensions prevailing on the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch with top Army Commanders and described Pakistani shelling targeting civilians in the border villages as “highly unprofessional”
Speaking exclusively to the Excelsior after two days tour of all forward areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts including Balakote, Hamirpur, Shahpur, Sabzian, Manjakote and surroundings, which were being repeatedly shelled by Pakistan army since intervening night of August 7 and 8, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar asserted that Pakistan army was trying to facilitate infiltration attempts under the cover of shelling and firing on the LoC but declared that the troops have thwarted the Pakistani plot.
“Our troops came across a big group of militants, which was trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory from Balakote sector under the cover of heavy shelling and firing by the Pakistan army. Despite being engaged in the shelling, our alert Army personnel spotted the intrusion bid and foiled it. The militants fled back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from where they had been launched,” the GOC Nagrota based 16 Corps said on his first trip to the two border districts after taking over as the GOC on July 23.
Lt Gen Nimbhorkar, who has rich experience of previous working in the two districts, maintained that the Indian Army was not targeting the civilians on Pakistan side.
“Under no circumstances, we target their civilians. We have to retaliate the Pakistan shelling and firing when they prolong it to silence their guns and ensure that there was no infiltration by the militants. But the approach of Pakistan army is highly `unprofessional’. They have been targeting our civilian areas directly,” the Army Commander said.
To a question on reasons behind such intense shelling and heavy firing for a prolonged period, the General said whenever an event is going to take place, the Pakistan army resorts to such practices. “I can’t say whether this time too they were adopting similar tactics but definitely pushing infiltrators into the Indian side is one of the major reasons behind the Pakistani firing,” he added.
However, the Army Commander asserted that infiltration is very-very tough for the militants on the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts in view of strict surveillance maintained by the troops and installation of sophisticated gadgetry.
Asserting that a number of militants continued to camp across the LoC awaiting an opportunity to sneak in, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar said the militants were even trying to indulge in other subversive acts like planting Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmine and carry out attacks on the Army posts. “They are trying every possible trick to target our troops but have failed. In future also, they will fail”.
On steps taken for safety of the people living in forward areas along the LoC, which were being directly targeted by Pakistan Army, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar said: “we have advised the civilians not to roam in the open. The civilian casualties have taken place when they were moving in the open on August 15 and 16. Thereafter, there have been no casualties. We have also arranged food, milk and medicines for the civilians in forward areas”.
The GOC said the Army was quite OK with presence of troops on the LoC in both districts of Rajouri and Poonch and morale of the troops was very high.
“Troops are working in excellent conditions. Their morale is very high despite heavy mortar shelling and firing. Even morale of the border dwellers is very high. They are putting up in the border areas braving heavy shelling and firing and haven’t migrated despite extreme adverse conditions and six civilian fatalities,” the Army Commander said and lauded courage being displayed by the Army soldiers and the people.
Meanwhile, during his two days visit to forward areas of the LoC, Lt Gen Nimbhorkar reviewed situation prevailing on the LoC of Poonch and Rajouri districts especially the areas being shelled by the Pakistani troops especially Balakote, Hamirpur, Sabzian, Shahpur, Manjakote etc. He met the field commanders and jawans of the Army deployed in forward areas and lauded their courage.
Follow our WhatsApp channel