Mercenaries in PoK may attack Indian positions 8212; Reports

The army has laid a three-tier security cover around Kargil to ensure that no Pakistan-backed intruder escaped into other parts of the border state, sources said.

The Army has sealed off all the entry points to Kashmir Valley and restricted movement of vehicles in certain parts of the State, especially in the northern areas, they said.

The areas most threatened included the highway linking Kargil area to frontier districts of Kupwara and Gurez through Vishensar and Kishensar areas, they added.

The Army and the Border Security Force BSF were put on maximum alert following concentration of Pakistani troops all over the 560-kms long Line of Control LoC and International Border IB in Jammu region.

However, there was no panic among the people living in villages near the Indo-Pak border. Instead, they remained busy with their routine agricultural and other activities, with educational institutions, Government offices and business establishments functioning as usual, reports reaching here from various places said.

Meanwhile, sources said that the unprovoked firing by Pakistani troops, which was going on for the last many years at intermittent intervals, had stopped following the air strike on infiltrators in Kargil sector since yesterday. Significantly, not a single shot was fired by Pakistani troops along the entire 350-kms long LoC in Jammu region during the last two days.

However, sources confirmed heavy movement of Pakistani troops near the LOC and the IB. While their concentration was going on along the LOC for the last few days, sources said that Pakistani troops had moved near the IB since yesterday. They have reached the Ditch-cum-Bund DCB on their side of the border, sources added.

The Indian Army and the BSF were maintaining vigil to check any eventuality, sources said. They said that the Pakistani troops have started deploying artillery guns and other weaponry at various places on their side along the LoC and the IB.

Meanwhile, reports from Udhampur 8212; which houses the Northern Command Headquarters 8212; said that the Army personnel had assembled in their respective units following an alert. The security around the units was also stepped up, with all the nearby roads barricaded to check all passing vehicles. No Army or defence vehicle was seen plying anywhere in the town.

However, there was no panic among the local residents, with Government offices, educational institutions and business establishments functioning as usual.