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| 'Militants may cross border to target Yatra' | | Army sounds alert | | Early Times Report
srinagar, July 4: Amid reports that militants may cross the border and target the ongoing 59-day Amarnath Yatra, Army has beefed up the security en route the cave shrine and has put the soldiers manning the LoC in south and central Kashmir on high alert.
Sources said the Army has placed hundreds of soldiers of Rashtriya Rifles units, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance of Yatra route and cave shrine. Infantry Unit of Army and companies of paramilitary forces, CRPF and BSF are combing forests located along the Yatra track.
The General Officer Commanding of 16 Corps Lt General KH Singh said: "We are aware that militants are trying to cross the border to create problems during Amarnath Yatra."
Singh, however, assured that the security forces are prepared to deal with any threat. "Let me assure you that their (militants) intentions of infiltration or trying to create trouble will be dealt with," he said.
Also this week, security forces heightened alert after 11 Kashmiri militants donning Army fatigues and holding firearms, posted their photographs on social networking site Facebook.
Sources said that intelligence agencies have already passed on the inputs to Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police about militants may change their strategy this time. "As per our information militants are not relying on their men who are present in Kashmir. They are likely to send a fresh group with only one aim i.e. to target Yatra," said a source.
Referring to the yesterday's infiltration bid in Uri sector, the source said, "Had alert troops not intercepted the group of militants near the LoC. They could have wrecked havoc."
It is in place to mention here that five militants and an Army soldier were killed in an encounter near Line of Control in Uri in a fierce gunfight which lasted for two days. "Militant handlers sitting across the Line of Control are making desperate attempts to push militants into this side but the strong anti-infiltration grid on the LoC has frustrated their nefarious designs," the source added.
A police official while talking to Early Times said: "Initially there was no threat to Yatra but recently we have received the inputs that a few militants are trying to regroup in south and central Kashmir. These are disturbing signals."
He exuded hope that militants won't be allowed to succeed in their designs. "We have put a three tier security grid at place and there is no possibility of militants being able to break the cordon," the police official said.
Sources said that Amarnath pilgrims have been advised to move in groups and if they find anyone suspicious or anything fishy they should inform the security personnel forthwith. "We are expecting that more than eight lakh pilgrims would visit the Amarnath Cave shrine this year. We cannot take chances neither can we be complacent," said an official.
He said that Army has named its 59-day operation to provide security to Yatra as "Operation Shiva" and Army is leading from the front other forces including Police and paramilitary men have been asked to assist the Army and work in close coordination with each other. "Providing security to Amarnath Yatra this year is a litmus test for us as militants have realized that they cannot target the security personnel as they get killed in the process. They (militants) are looking for soft targets so we have to be extra cautious," the official added. |
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