Beefed up observation posts established in vacated areas

KAKSAR, JULY 13: Pakistani troops today continued to withdraw from most sectors but Indian artillery had to force them out from other pla...

KAKSAR, JULY 13: Pakistani troops today continued to withdraw from most sectors but Indian artillery had to force them out from other places. Even as the peaks were cleared of infiltrators, the Army began permanent deployment of troops in the vacated areas.

The Army quickly moved to the vacated areas to establish Observation Posts (OPs) along with infantry and artillery soldiers. Even the Listening Posts (LPs) — to keep a lookout and also to intercept enemy wireless communication — have been increased in number. “We have to fill every gap and ensure that the intruders don’t dare to return,” an officer said.

Earlier, the LPs were manned by a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) and two jawans; now a larger group, led by an officer, will be stationed there.

There did not appear any fixed pattern of withdrawal. The pullout by Pak intruders was more or less complete in the Batalik sector. The infiltrators were also reported to be finally retreating from Drass and Mushkoh Valley areas where they werewell-entrenched till yesterday. In Kaksar, too, the Observation Post reported extensive withdrawal.

Indian artillery had to pound the Kaksar peaks to force the intruders to flee. Indian guns — 120 mm and 105 mm — continuously fired at enemy-held positions last night to make them vacate. The Pakistani artillery retaliated by heavy shelling of Kaksar and Kargil areas. “They had no choice but to retreat. This is the first positive indication of withdrawal. We do not expect much resistance from them now,” an officer said.

“We are taking with us people from the Engineers’ regiment to detect mines and defuse them. The intruders have left large numbers of mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The mines and IEDs have been left behind either in the bunkers or attached to the bodies. Initially, they had attached IEDs with the bodies of Indian soldiers but now they are also doing it with the bodies of their men, which they know, we are picking up. All the Indian bodies have been recovered,” said afield commander here.

The Indian troops recovered large quantities of arms, ammunition, weapons and even ration and food items from the positions vacated by the Pakistani intruders. “This indicates that they left in panic. In many places we have also found their personal weapons,” the commander added.