SRINAGAR (NNN-Xinhua) -- Indian army has been on high alert in snowbound areas on line-of-control (LoC) where avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall has damaged fencing, a top Indian army officer said Friday.
The step has been taken in anticipation of infiltration from other side of LoC.
"We have increased vigil on LoC in the areas where fencing was damaged due to heavy snowfall and avalanches," said Lt. General Syed Atta Hasnain, General officer Commanding of Indian Army's 15 Corps in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu & Kashmir.
In a press briefing at an Indian army base in Handwara around 75 km northwest of Srinagar city,Hasnain warned of possible attempts of infiltration from the other side during the coming months.
In a joint operation on Thursday Indian army and police killed five militants during a fierce gunfight in Handwara forest. An Indian army trooper was also wounded in the standoff.
The army said they seized five assault rifles and large quantity of ammunition from the gunfight site. Last week five militants were also killed in the area.
Indian army said avalanches triggered by heavy snowfall had extensively damaged the fencing along the line of control (LoC)in February.
"As snow starts to melt, we will fix the fencing again," Hasnain said.
LoC is the de facto border dividing Kashmir into Indian and Pakistani controlled parts. The Indian army fenced LoC in 2004 to stop infiltrators from sneaking into their part.
Kashmir has a rugged terrain. Landslides and avalanches are often triggered by heavy rains and snows.
New Delhi and Islamabad in 2003 agreed to observe a ceasefire along the International Border and LoC in Kashmir. Though some violations have been reported on both sides, the ceasefire remains in effect.--NNN-XINHUA
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