Damage to Border Fencing in Kashmir Suspected

Heavy snowfall may have damaged the border fencing along the LoC in the state, Defence sources said.

 “This winter, Jammu & Kashmir witnessed heavy snowfall. The upper reaches including areas close to the Line of Control have been receiving more snow as compared to the plains,” sources in the BSF said.

 The BSF along with the Army looks after the Line of control and the International Border (IB) in the state.

 “At least 25 to 30 ft of snow has accumulated on the Line of Control  in Kashmir. The fencing is totally covered by snow,” sources said.

 They said it was likely that snow may have damaged certain portions of the border fencing. However, the exact extent of damage can be assessed only after the snow starts melting.

BSF sources said the snowfall had not affected the routine operations of the security forces along the LoC.

“The security men continue to patrol along the Line of Control . Besides, they continue to monitor suspect movement through surveillance equipments” BSF sources said.

However, they said adequate care was being taken to prevent the loss of lives due to avalanches along the LoC.

“After the issuance of avalanche alerts, we take adequate care not to send our men to avalanche-prone areas. This measure does not have any negative impact from the security point of view," they said.

BSF sources said, troops deployed along the Line of Control were on high alert to thwart any infiltration attempts, if any, by militants from across the border.

“At present all the infiltration routes are closed by snow, but we are not taking any chances and conduct routine operations,” they said.

Army spokesman in Srinagar Lt Col N N Joshi said they do not have concrete reports that suggest that the border fencing has been damaged.

Source: The Indian Express March 15, 2014