Infiltration being curtailed to large extent:Army Chief

Bangalore, Aug 17 (UNI) Chief of Army Staff J J Singh today said infiltration in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states has been curtailed to a large extent due to alert troops in the border areas of the country.

Talking to newsmen after inaugurating newly constructed building of the Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology here, he said '' our troops have thwarted, to a large extent, infiltration from neighbouring countries.'' He said attempts to infiltrate were mainly reported during summer because of conducive weather conditions. ''However, our troops have successfully thwarted the attempts by the infiltrators and many a time in the recent days, they were made to run away''.

''No country can allow armed men with weapons and explosives in its territory. Infiltration continued but it was at a low level at present'', he added.

Clarifying the Centre's move to change the surrender policy, the Army Chief clarified that the move was to prevent anti-social elements from taking undue advantage of free surrender.

''We don't want to allow terrorists surrendering and then carrying on their anti-social activities. Hence, it was decided to check the antecdents of those who are willing to surrender with the help of local police who can investigate and report about the family background of those who are willing to surrender.'' He said the army was also providing security to villagers who provide information about terrorists and infiltration in border areas of the country.

UNI