Date:02/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/02/stories/2004070204111200.htm

National

Fencing completed along LoC

By Our Staff Reporter

BHIMBER GALI (POONCH), JULY 1. Fencing operations along the Line of Control (LoC) to the south of the mighty Pir Panjal range has been completed, thus posing a major deterrent to militants crossing over from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The fencing will also give a boost to the counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Militants camps in Bagh, Nikiyal, Bimber, Kotli and Rawlakot in PoK are situated near this stretch of the LoC, which has been used frequently by militants for crossing over. With the Army completing the fencing by the June 30 deadline, sneaking into this side of the LoC will not be easy. The spiked fence, eight to 10 feet high, has an alarm, which alerts jawans in the case of any infiltration attempt.

Talking to The Hindu, Brigadier K.V.S. Lalotra, who supervised the fencing in this stretch, said, "It was very difficult putting up the fences as we had started on the job even before the ceasefire along the LoC." The results were showing, he said, and the forward posts were intercepting messages saying that the militants were facing difficulty in carrying out intrusions.