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Top army brass draws up anti-terror plan

Gen Rawat and other army commanders met in Srinagar on Thursday to review the security situation and draw up a strategy to curb infiltration and combat terrorism.

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Army personnel display arms and ammunition recovered from the two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists
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On a day country's top army brass, including the chief General Bipin Rawat, met for an unprecedented conference in Srinagar, there was success for Indian security forces as two local terrorists were killed in Sopore and the Indian army inflicted damage to their Pakistani counterparts in a retaliatory fire. A module of Lashkar-e-Toiba was busted as the police arrested five terrorists and over ground workers (OGW) at Hajin in Bandipora district of North Kashmir.

Gen Rawat and other army commanders met in Srinagar on Thursday to review the security situation and draw up a strategy to curb infiltration and combat terrorism.

Although the army played down the meeting calling it a scheduled one, sources said such a meeting has not taken place in the recent past.

Just a month ago, there was an army commander's conference in Delhi.

The meeting is significant in view of the current environment of frequent face-offs by the armies of India and Pakistan and the unrest in Kashmir. The Indian army has intensified counter-terror operations in Kashmir targeting local terrorists.

Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday accused Pakistan of not allowing bilateral talks. He said while India has taken several significant steps to ease tension, Pakistan responded by terror attacks at Pathankot, Uri and mutilating the bodies of Indian soldiers.

As the top officers drew out a plan there was action on the LoC and the hinterland. There were reports of Pakistani soldiers getting killed and injured as the Indian army responded to firing from across the Line of Control in Naushera sector.

The two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed were identified as Aijaz Ahmad Mir and Basharat Ahmad Sheikh after an encounter in a house at Mir-Mohalla, Nathipora in Sopore on Thursday morning.

A General Reserve Engineering Force (GREF) labourer was killed and five others, including a BSF soldier, were injured as Pakistani forces resorted to heavy firing and shelling in Naushera and Krishna Ghati sector.

In the last few days local terrorists have been gunned down and the army has also hit Pakistan army posts across LoC aiding infiltration by terrorists earlier this month.

Official figures reveal there were 228 incidents of ceasefire violation along LoC and 221 incidents of ceasefire violation along the International border in 2016. Thirteen civilians were killed and 83 others were injured while eight army personnel were killed and 74 others were injured. Five BSF personnel were also killed and 25 others also injured in these incidents.

In 2017 till February, there were 22 incidents of ceasefire violation along the LoC and six incidents on the International Border

Lieutenant Colonel Manish Mehta, defence spokesman at Jammu, said "Pakistani Army resorted to indiscriminate firing using small arms and mortars in Naushera and Krishna Ghati sectors of Rajouri and Poonch districts respectively.

Pakistan army first opened the front in Naushera sector at 7.20 am when they resorted to heavy firing and shelling on Indian positions. Twenty minutes later Pakistan army opened another front in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district.

Pakistani forces used heavy caliber long range weapons including 120 mm mortars, which have a range of seven kilometers, and 82 mm mortars, having range of 4.5 kilometers, to inflict maximum damage deep into the civilian areas near the LoC.

Deputy Commissioner of Poonch, Mohammad Harun Malik said the shells landed in Gani Balnoi village where GREF workers were camping for the road construction.

"The shells landed in the village where GREF workers are located. These GREF workers are posted for road construction in the area", he told DNA.

Analysis

It's not common for the army's top brass to meet in Srinagar

The meeting is significant in view of the current situation in J&K

Army drew up a plan to curb infiltration and target local terrorists

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