STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Amid heightened tension with Pakistan and increased infiltration bids, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda on Thursday visited the border area of Uri sector of Kashmir and asked troops to remain alert for “any eventuality”.
He took stock of all measures taken by the army to beat back “any misadventure” from across the Line of Control (LoC).
The visit came on a day the troops foiled an attempt by terrorists to storm an army camp in Handwara and three infiltration bids on the LoC, killing seven terrorists in all.
“The Northern Army Commander Lt Gen D S Hooda, accompanied by Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen Satish Dua, visited the frontier area of Uri and reviewed security with the local commanders,” a defence spokesman said.
During his interaction with officers and men on ground, Lt Gen Hooda “conveyed his compliments for their high levels of operational preparedness, vigil and morale and exhorted them to remain alert for any eventuality,” the spokesman said.
He said the Army commander also complimented the troops operating in hinterland for their professionalism which was amply displayed again in the successful foiling of terrorist attack in Baramulla on October 3 and in today’s operation in Langate, Kupwara, in which three Pakistani terrorists have been eliminated.
Later, both the senior officers visited Awantipura-based ‘Victor Force’ Headquarters in south Kashmir where Lt Gen Hooda was briefed on the security situation in the valley. “The Army Commander urged all to sustain the pressure on terrorist groups operating in the valley and also to continue with the humanitarian initiatives to help the civil administration in alleviating the problems of the people,” the spokesman said.
ALERT ON AIRPORTS
JAMMU: Amid heightened tensions along the International Border and Line of Control, central intelligence agencies have now warned of possible strikes on airports spread across four states of Punajb, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir.
According to highly placed official sources, following the alert, the authorities entrusted with the job of beefing up security in and around these places have started plugging the gaps, wherever they existed, to prevent any terror strike.
Out of these four states airports in both the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar have also been listed by the intelligence agencies where highly motivated terrorists could strike.
The Civil Aviation Security Bureau has also written to the police chiefs in each state, the CISF or paramilitary force which guards airports, as well as to state-run and private airlines alerting them to the security threat.
The airport authorities in these states have been directed to exercise extra vigil while checking the luggage and scanning baggage through scanners.
The entire security bandobast across parking lots and cargo areas have been reviewed and precautions needed have been taken.
The alert issued by the central agency is to ensure that the festival season passes off peacefully and no anti national was able to trigger any strike to avenge India’s’ strike on terror launch pads inside POK.
