Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 3: General Officer Commanding (GOC) 16 Corps, Lt Gen D S Hooda said today that firing, ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts from across the border have increased and the situation along the LoC is tense.
“The situation on the border (with Pakistan) is tense but under control,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a function to remember Brigadier Mohammad Usman, who attained martyrdom while defending the country during 1947-48 operations in Nowshera sector.
“Firing (from across the border) has increased in the past two to three months. Ceasefire violations have increased. The situation on the border is tense,” he said.
“Whatever you say on the ground is true. Infiltration attempts are going on. Two attempts — one in Keri (Rajouri) and another in Poonch have been foiled recently,” Lt Gen Hooda said.
“Infiltrators are now attacking our security forces, targeting our posts more openly as they are desperate to infiltrate.
“But in Kashmir, they are able to infiltrate because of heavy snowfall which damages the fencing erected for checking infiltration,” he said.
“Attack on security forces to inflict more and more casualties is the new strategy of infiltrators,” the Army officer said.
On Border Action Team (BAT) attacks from across the border, the Army Commander said “there are strong possibilities of BAT strikes on our forces from the Pakistani side as experienced previously.”
Replying to a query, he said “it is premature to attribute escalation in tension on the border to the change of Government in Pakistan.”
He said the Army is vigilant and troops have been asked to remain alert round-the-clock.
On suicide cases within Army, Lt Gen Hooda said “95 per cent of cases of suicide in Army are due to personal problems of jawans.
“The job of Army is difficult, but work culture is good. I don’t think there is any pressure of working.”
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