Security spruced up along LoC in Kashmir to check infiltration

Poonch, Aug 10 (ANI): Security personnel in Kashmir have intensified vigilance along the Line of Control (LoC) as they fear infiltration to pick up with the melting of snow at high altitudes.

Troops of 18 Mahar Regiment of the Indian army, who have been keeping round the clock vigil at Aangan Pathri post on Pirpanjal range in the state's Poonch sector, said they are on alert to foil any infiltration bid.

"There is a more chance of infiltration at this time as the snow melts. This is the time used by the militants to sneak in. So, we have to be very alert," said Dalip Pagray, a soldier.

The security personnel said that they are all the more alert as the militants have adopted newer means to sneak into Indian territory.

"New trends that we are seeing are that they are trying to infiltrate in smaller groups and are using the GPS. They are not using local guides. They are using their own guides to infiltrate into the territory.

We are checking our operations. We are laying ambushes in the night and we are vigilant 24 hours to combat all these things," said Major Rahul Salathia, a company commander.

More than 20 people mostly "infiltrators" have been killed in fire fights along the LoC in the past one week due to increased patrolling, officer said.

The infiltration comes despite a ceasefire between the two armies and a three metre (yard) high barbed wire security fence along most of the 742-km LoC. But militants seem to have breached the barrier. (ANI)