Army, BSF on high alert on India-Pakistan border
August 7th, 2009 - 3:12 pm ICT by IANSJammu, Aug 7 (IANS) The army and the Border Security Force (BSF) have stepped up patrolling in Jammu and Kashmir along the border with Pakistan to foil possible infiltration by terrorists ahead of India’s Independence Day Aug 15, officials said Friday.
A senior BSF official told IANS on condition of anonymity: “We have stepped up patrolling especially at night to prevent any infiltration by militants from Pakistan.”
The army guards the 720 km-long Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir. The BSF patrols 220 km of international border in the Jammu region.
A three-tier barbed wire fence has been erected along the border on the Indian side to deter infiltration bids but there are some open points like rivers or rivulets that offer free spaces.
The infiltrators have at times even managed to cut the fence to sneak into India. The fence is 500 meters to two kilometres inside Indian territory.
An army official said that air surveillance is also on along the frontier.
Security has been reviewed at all sensitive areas and installation in the Kashmir Valley, police said.
Separatist groups fighting to end Indian rule over Jammu and Kashmir routinely step up attacks on security forces and government landmarks both in the run up to and during Independence Day and Republic Day.
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- Four BSF troopers injured in blast on border (Second Lead) - Dec 26, 2009
- Two troopers injured, firing continues at India-Pakistan border (Lead) - Sep 18, 2009
- Four BSF troopers injured in blast near Jammu (Lead) - Dec 26, 2009
- 450 terrorists waiting to enter India, says army - Oct 25, 2010
- Ceasefire violation at LoC in J&K; - May 22, 2012
- Army steps up vigil along LoC - May 20, 2012
- Two BSF men seriously injured in firing from Pakistan (Second Lead) - Sep 18, 2009
- BSF trooper killed in Pakistani firing in Jammu (Lead) - Jan 11, 2010
- Indian, Pakistani forces exchange fire, infiltration foiled (Second Lead) - May 01, 2010
- Pakistani infiltrator killed on border - Mar 28, 2010
- Infiltration bid foiled near Jammu: BSF (Lead) - Aug 16, 2009
- Two BSF men wounded in Pakistan firing, Rangers deny role (Third Lead) - Sep 18, 2009
- Kashmir border fence affecting wildlife - Sep 01, 2011
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