Alert sounded along India-Pakistan border

Ahead of Independence Day and amid an increasing number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan, state authorities have sounded high alert along the Indo-Pak border as well as in the hinterlands of Jammu and Kashmir.

"High alert has been sounded by security forces along the Line of Control to foil designs of infiltrations and also increased ceasefire violations in the state," said a senior army officer.

An alert has also been sounded in the hinterlands of Rajouri, Poonch and Doda districts, he said.

Patrolling along the border line with Pakistan has also been increased and round-the-clock vigilance is being maintained, apart from use of equipments, including thermal imagers.

"Militants are staged along the border line to infiltrate into this side. The firing and ceasefire violations are aimed at pushing in militants to this side. But our troops are alert and foiling their designs," he said.

Security has also increased along the International Border in Jammu, Kathua and Samba sectors, where a tunnel from Pakistan was discovered on July 28.

"Security has been beefed up and round-the-clock patrolling is being done to ensure peace along the border. Additional security has been put on the job," a BSF officer said.

Security has been beefed up at the Jammu and Srinagar airports also following some reports, said Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Dilbagh Singh.

Round-the-clock checking and frisking of the vehicles is taking place, he said.

"The August 15 period is very sensitive. Some days back, a tunnel from Pakistan was detected in Samba, which is a serious issue for security. It is a big tunnel," he said.

Keeping in view all these aspects, "we have reviewed the security in Jammu city and other places," he said.

There have been five ceasefire violations by Pakistan targeted at the Indian posts along the LoC and IB in the state, in which three BSF jawans were injured during the past one week.