Army beefs up surveillance along LoC

Fearing a possible increase in infiltration from Pakistan – occupied Kashmir ahead of the winter snowfall, the army has strengthened the surveillance grid along the LoC, the army said on Thursday.

"The surveillance grid has been strengthened to foil any attempt by militants to cross over to this side," General Officer Commanding of Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain told reporters in north Kashmir's Kupwara district, 100 km from here.

He, however, warned that next few weeks might see an increase in attempts by militants to infiltrate before mountain passes get closed with the onset of winter.

Gen Hasnain said numerous attempts were made by militants to sneak into the Valley from across the LoC this year but these have been foiled by the alert troops.

Army this summer intercepted several major infiltrating groups of militants in north Kashmir including the one in which 12 militants were killed while crossing a river into Gurez sector of Bandipora district.