Eyes on restive Rajouri, Poonch ahead of Lok Sabha elections

Arjun Sharma

Jammu, March 1

With the Lok Sabha polls in Jammu and Kashmir approaching, security forces are on toes as they have tightened vigil, especially in Rajouri and Poonch districts which have been restive for quite sometime now.

The two districts have witnessed multiple attacks by terrorists against security forces. Terror groups are also trying to send narcotics and weapons through quadcopters in these districts along the Line of Control (LoC). Three infiltrations by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been detected in February. Soldiers had opened fire at these flying objects, forcing them to retreat to Pakistan’s side.

Patrolling taken up

• Joint teams of the police and the Village Defence Groups conducted patrolling in Udhampur district on Friday.
• The routine exercise was taken up in Basantgarh, Panchari, Majalta, Latti, Rehambal, Ramnagar and Dudu.

Security forces, including the police and the Army, have also been trying to strengthen their intelligence network by extending various outreach programmes for the general populace who have in the past provided information about terrorists’ movements. The presence of CRPF men has already been increased in these districts after many terror attacks in the region.

“Terror groups in Pakistan will not want peaceful elections in J&K. They will go to any extent and may also plan attacks in different parts. Rajouri and Poonch being on their target for years now, security forces are keeping a close watch in the region,” an Army Intelligence source said. He said cordon-and-search operations had been going on routinely in these two districts. Even the forest areas are being scanned as it is believed that at least 20-25 Pakistani terrorists are hiding in jungles waiting for orders from their Pakistani handlers.

Rajouri and Poonch also hold importance as these are the only two districts in Jammu division which have been included in a Kashmir-based constituency — Anantnag. The BJP and other parties are leaving no stone unturned to win the seat for which political campaigning has already started under tight security arrangements.

New DIG posted

The Home Department of the J&K administration has posted Tejinder Singh as the Deputy Inspector General of Rajouri-Poonch Range.