Admitting that cross-border infiltration has gone up in Jammu and Kashmir, the army said on Sunday that militants are using damaged fencing routes to infiltrate into the state from across the border.
"The infiltration has marginally increased this year as compared to last year along LoC. While 118 militants managed to cross the border in the first six months of 2006, 137 militants have infiltrated into the state from January 2007 till now," General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern command Lt Gen H S Panag told reporters at Udhampur.
Panag said that militants are taking benefit of unguarded gaps and damaged fencing areas to infiltrate into the state.
Though efforts have been initiated to plug the gaps along LoC, the infiltrators continue to exploit the situation, he said, adding militants have been using damaged fencing areas in Baramulla, Kupwara, Gulmargh and Shanbari areas of the state.
"The heavy snowfall has damaged fencing in these areas and after snow melts militants take benefit of the situation to cross into this side," he said.
However, we will repair damaged fencing areas along Lock in Jammie and Kashmir by June 30, he said.
He said that a two-pronged strategy is adopted to check infiltration besides use of electronic surveillance. As much as 45 percent of the troops deployed in Jammu and Kashmir are for tackling terror and infiltration operations in the state.