news details |
|
|
| LoC fire on…toll mounts to 12 | | Antony says, no Kargil like situation in J&K | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | Aug 23
The fierce encounter between security forces and militants, in which a Colonel of a Rastriya Rifles battalion was killed on Friday, is still on near the Line of Control (LoC) in Macchal sector of northern Kashmir.
Latest reports said the security forces have killed 12 militants in the encounter that started almost 30 hours back.
The Army lost Colonel J J Joseph and two jawans in the encounter, while four other Army men were injured.
Col Joseph was martyred leading the daredevil operation against the infiltrators in the dense forests of Macchal sector, amidst reports of escalation in militant related incidents in the state.
Joseph, in spite of the injury, directed his troops but was later evacuated to Base Hospital in Srinagar. His troops launched the operation following specific inputs about a large group of terrorists hiding in the forest.
"The encounter is still going on and the pattern of fire indicates that these could be foreign militants," Army sources said.
The Rastriya Rifles laid a cordon of the jungle area and commenced operations yesterday. This is the first major encounter with terrorists in the hinterland, and comes as reports suggest a steep increase in infiltration attempts by militants and LoC violations by the Pakistani troops.
According to Army figures, July and August have witnessed a steep increase in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops with incidents jumping to 10 violations a month from one or two in April and May.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister A K Antony today said that there is no 'Kargil War' like situation on the India-Pakistan border and the situation is well under control.
Talking to newsmen on the sidelines of laying foundation stone for HAL's new Manufacturing Unit in Kerala, he said that "there is no Kargil War like situation in the border and our force is fully alert and giving fitting reply whenever Pakistan soldiers firing violating 'cease fire'.
He said that the force in the border has been fully modernised to meet the challenges and there is no need to have any apprehensions.
When asked whether his next month's visit to US was in connection with Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Antony said that "my visit was not concerned with it. It is for continued dialogue on strategic matter.
He said that his ministry want HAL to diversify itself and produce Civil aircraft also. "In this regard paper work is going on and soon order may be issued in this regard." "My dream was HAL should go for producing Civil aircraft also", he added.
He said that the Asia's biggest Naval Academy project in Elimale in Kerala, which was lingering for the last 21 years, would be commissioned next year and Rs 221 Crore has already been sanctioned for the purpose.
He said that the Rs 70 Crore project of HAL manufacturing unit for which he laid foundation stone today was expected to be completed within 18 months. The state government has sanctioned 200 acres of land to help future expansion as well. The new unit turnover may be Rs 60 Crore to 70 crore per annum from 2009-10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
