Senior Army officer visits forward areas in Kashmir; reviews operational preparedness

SRINAGAR: A senior army officer visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez sector of Jammu and Kashmir to review the preparedness of the counter-infiltration grid ahead of Republic Day, officials said here on Wednesday.

General officer Commanding of the Army’s 15 Corps Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai visited the forward areas in Gurez sector of Bandipora district on Tuesday to review counter-infiltration grid and operational preparedness, they said.

Security officials are concerned over the possibility of infiltration of terrorists into the valley due to lack of adequate snowfall in higher reaches of Kashmir this winter.

The mountain passes along the LoC usually are blocked during the winter months due to heavy snowfall, reducing the chances of infiltration of terrorists. However, dry winter has prompted the counter-infiltration grid to step up the vigil along the LoC.

Lt Gen Ghai, during his interaction with the troops, exhorted them to remain “in a high state of operational readiness” in extreme weather conditions and terrain.