Army Chief likely to visit Jammu belt today, review security situation

Defence sources told The Indian Express that the Army Chief, who has earlier served as the Northern Army Commander, will likely travel to the Army’s 16 Corps headquarters in Nagrota Wednesday and has also planned to visit Rajouri and Poonch areas subsequently.

He is likely to review the overall J&K strategy — including new challenges of narco-terror prevailing in the UT and keeping infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC) in check, they said.

They added that a likely assessment on the requirement of additional troops in areas south of the Pir Panjal range may also be discussed during the visit. In addition, he will be briefed on the additional security preparations for the ongoing Amarnath yatra.

As per the sources, firing incidents reported along the LoC in the Poonch sector last week and possibility of infiltration of terrorists from across the border is also likely to feature in the discussions.

In the last three years, a number of the terror attacks have rocked the Jammu-Rajouri-Poonch region leading to multiple casualties of security forces and civilians, including one where nine pilgrims were killed and 33 were left injured after terrorists fired at a bus carrying pilgrims in J&K’s Reasi.

Encounters in Jammu’s Doda and Kathua districts also took place last month, killing two militants and a CRPF jawan were killed and injuring seven security personnel.