Security on HP-JK borders beefed up

CHAMBA, Mar 21: Security along the borders of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh adjacent to the Jammu and Kashmir has been beefed up in view of apprehensions of militants sneaking into Himachal during the summer, Superintendent of Police-Chamba, B M Sharma today said.

Security forces have been issued directions regarding strategy to be adopted after the melting of snow, to check infiltration bids of militants from neighbouring Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) have been deputed along the inter-State border stretching over 216 kms in the high mountain regions, for keeping a round the clock surveillance on infiltration attempts, the SP said.

“Seeing the long porous border of Chamba district along with Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankot district of Punjab, we have divided our border in four sectors – Khairi, Kihar, Tissa and Pangi,” Sharma said.

Revealing that three companies of the 6th IRB have been deployed in these sectors and three control headquarters along with 12 border checkpoints have been set up along the borders in Khairi, Kihar and Tissa sectors, the SP said, the 4th IRB, with a strength of 290 security personnel, have been positioned in the Pangi sector.

In addition to the security personnel, services of 467 special police officer (SPOs) and 1,437 village defence committee members recruited from among the local people are also being utilised for gathering intelligence inputs, he added. (AGENCIES)