Situation at LoC under control: Indian Army

However, Lieutenant General KJS Dhillon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Army’s 15 Corps said the Army is fully prepared and will not allow Pakistan and its Army to disrupt peace in the valley.

“Situation at the LoC is under control and largely peaceful. The infiltration from Pakistani side is being attempted regularly and we have been having regular contacts at the LoC. But infiltration attempt by militants, supported by Pakistani Army, is being foiled,” Lt Gen Dhillon, flanked by Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh and ADG CRPF Zulfiqar Hasan, told reports during a press conference here on Friday.

The Army commander said that Pakistan has stepped up ceasefire violations along the LoC in a bid to help militants waiting at launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). “We have intelligence reports that militants are waiting in launch pads to infiltrate into J&K and disrupt peace. But, our anti-infiltration grid is fully prepared to thwart any attempt by militants to cross LoC,” he said.

He, however, refused to answer the question about the number of militants presently waiting at these launch pads, saying it is tactical information which could compromise their sources or alert militant leadership.

Lt Gen Dhillon said the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the state, particularly in Kashmir valley, is more "pronounced" in the hinterland. “In the last one year there has been an increase in IED attacks in the valley and security forces are up for the task,” he said.

Meanwhile, the J&K GDP said security forces have destroyed various modules responsible for planning to carry out IED attacks. “Many Over Ground Workers (OGWs) have been arrested while top militant leadership has been eliminated. Most of the militant outfits have been decimated in the valley,” he said.

Answering a question about reports of additional security forces being sent to the valley, he said security personnel were on regular duty though out the year because of elections, among others, with no time to relax. “There were also fresh inputs of increase in violence by militants which made it necessary to strengthen the counter intelligence grid on the ground,” he added.