Jammu: The Army and the Border Security Force (BSF) have stepped up patrolling in Jammu and Kashmir along the border with Pakistan to foil possible infiltration by terrorists ahead of India's Independence Day on August 15, officials said Friday.
A senior BSF official said on condition of anonymity: "We have stepped up patrolling especially at night to prevent any infiltration by militants from Pakistan."
The Army guards the 720 km-long Line of Control (LoC) dividing the Indian and Pakistani administered Kashmir. The BSF patrols 220 km of international border in the Jammu region.
A three-tier barbed wire fence has been erected along the border on the Indian side to deter infiltration bids but there are some open points like rivers or rivulets that offer free spaces.
The infiltrators have at times even managed to cut the fence to sneak into India. The fence is 500 meters to two kilometres inside Indian territory.
An Army official said that air surveillance is also on along the frontier.
Security has been reviewed at all sensitive areas and installation in the Kashmir Valley, police said.
Separatist groups fighting to end Indian rule over Jammu and Kashmir routinely step up attacks on security forces and government landmarks both in the run up to and during Independence Day and Republic Day.
IANS
First Published: Friday, August 07, 2009, 14:30