Indian Army ready to foil infiltration bid

Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir: Claiming that more than 160 militants were ready to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir, the army on Tuesday said the counter-infiltration grid on the Line of Control (LoC) was robust to meet any such challenges.

" Our estimate is that around 160 to 170 terrorists are waiting to infiltrate... (but) the counter-infiltration grid is robust as always. Even though there are challenges because of the weather, it is our responsibility to respond to those challenges and we are ready for that," Commander of Srinagar-based Chinar Corps Lt Gen Subrata Saha told reporters.

Lt Gen Saha said there were new challenges before the army in view of delay in heavy snowfall this winter.

"This year there has not been much snow so far as there was the previous year. There has been 12 to 19 inch snow at some places but temperatures are down and there are separate and new challenges because of that and we have to face them and respond to them," he said.

The army commander was speaking after laying the foundation of a bridge in this town in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

The Chinar Corps has taken the initiative to construct the bridge on Sopore-Sangrama highway with an aim to address the transportation problems of the locals.