Necessary security arrangements have been put in place for ensuring peace and security in Jammu and Kashmir, said General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh on Tuesday after chairing a meeting of the core group of intelligence and security agencies in Srinagar.
However, sources in the Army said they expected infiltrations and Cease Fire Violations (CFV) to go up in the coming days by Pakistan following the dilution of Article 370 and reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement after the meeting in Srinagar, the Army said counter-terrorism and the law and order grids had been strengthened. “The security forces are suitably deployed to guard important vulnerable points/areas, prepared for crowd control, emerging law and order situations, as also to conduct effective counter terrorist operations. Overall, the security forces are firmly in control of the security situation,” it stated.
Due to the strong security measures in place, the Army sources said, chances of rioting or any other things happening were unlikely for some time. However, they noted that the Pakistan army had to do something to show solidarity with people of Kashmir. “So they will do some action on the LoC [Line of Control]. We are expecting that infiltration, CFVs or some visible action will be done by the Pakistan army,” a source said.
The Kashmir Valley still remained shut which, the sources said, should be relaxed in the next couple of days.
Pakistan’s moves
Lt. Gen. Singh pointed out in the past few days, Pakistan intensified its efforts to increase the strength of terrorists in the launch pads along the LoC, initiated CFVs, pushed infiltrators across the LoC, calibrated terrorist actions in the hinterland, as also exploited the social media to launch disinformation campaign in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Army had given a befitting response and it would “respond with resolve and the cost would be prohibitive for them,” , Lt. Gen. Singh said.
Early in the morning, the Army foiled an infiltration along the LoC in Machhal sector. It also recovered three AK assault rifles, three pistols and 13 grenades from an infiltration attempt that occurred in Uri on Monday.
The Kashmir Valley still remained shut which, the sources said, should be relaxed in the next couple of days.
