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| Infiltration causing concern: Antony | | |
NEW DELHI | June 25
Continuing infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir is a matter of 'concern', Defence Minister A.K. Antony said here Monday.
'The continuing infiltration is of concern to us. We are taking sufficient precautions to prevent it,' Antony told reporters on the sidelines of a defence accounts function.
'The army is alert. It is always prepared to meet any eventuality,' he added.
Antony's remarks came a day after Indian Army soldiers, in two separate incidents, killed eight armed intruders who were trying to sneak across the LoC.
It was the first time in recent memory that such a large number of infiltrators had been killed in a single day and took to 14 the number of intruders who had been shot this month.
One Indian Army junior commissioned officer (JCO) was killed and two soldiers were injured, while eight AK-47s were recovered after the incidents.
The defence minister has frequently stated that infiltration from across the frontier is continuing though there has been a fall in the number of militants who try to come across.
Because of this, he has said, there was no question of reducing troops levels in Kashmir, as some political parties in the state have been demanding.
Any decision on demilitarisation would be taken on the recommendations of the Indian Army, the minister has said.
The infiltration had seen a sharp rise in April when some 82 attempts were made - more than three times the attempts in the same month last year.
Sixty-four attempts were made in May - about the same as last year - with nine of the intruders being killed. Overall, 41 militants were killed in the state during the month with 38 of them by the army.
Till June 24, a total of 40 militants have been killed in the state - including 14 on the frontier.
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