Army chief Gen Manoj Pande arrives in Jammu to review security situation

India Army chief General Manoj Pande has visited Jammu yesterday and review the situation there and discuss further strengthening the counter-terrorism grid there. According to defence sources, the visit comes a few days after four army personnel attained martyrdom in a terrorist attack near the Dera K Gali sector in the Poonch district last Thursday. 

The Army chief is also likely to visit the Rajouri sector and discuss the recent and ongoing counter-terrorist operations and the casualties that have been suffered in the recent terror attacks there.

The Poonch-Rajouri sectors are the responsibility of the 16 Corps which is going to see a routine change in command as the incumbent Lt Gen Sandeep Jain is handing over command to Lt Gen Naveen Sachdev. The Army Headquarters is also watching the situation closely and keeping track of operations there closely. Indian Army is also further strengthening its preparedness on the Line of Control and the International



Border from where these terrorists have been trying to infiltrate into the Indian side from across.  

Meanwhile, security forces have further intensified search operations in mountainous areas and other places in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch to track down the terrorists behind the attack. Helicopters, drones, and para commandos have been deployed in the search operations.  

Security forces are targeting natural caves in Pir Panjal mountains and other upper reaches following reports that about  25 to 30 foreign terrorists who are active in the twin border districts have taken shelter there. Besides other suspected hideous, forests and vulnerable areas are also being searched jointly by the Army, paramilitary forces, and J&K police. Mobile internet services have continued to be shut down in the twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch for the last three days.