Defence Minister visits forward areas along LoC, reviews security situation

Jammu: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Saturday visited forward areas along the Line of Control (LoC) and reviewed the security situation and anti-infiltration measures in place in Rajouri-Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

On his maiden visit to the state after becoming Defence Minister, Parrikar accompanied by Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Northern Command Chief Lt Gen D S Hooda, 16 Corps commander Lt Gen K H Singh visited forward posts along the LoC in Hamirpur battalion sector, where he was briefed on the anti-infiltration measures by top commanders on the ground.

Parrikar interacted with troops on LoC, took tea with and patted them for their alertness on the borderline, Defence Spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.

The General Officer Commanding (GoC) 16 Corps, Lt Gen Singh briefed the Defence Minister on the security situation along the borderline and in-depth areas in South of Pir Panchal ranges in Jammu region, Lt Col Mehta said.

The corps commander briefed Parrikar on the threat perception and how it manifests in the border area, counter infiltration methodology and counter IED measures besides various Sadhbhavana projects undertaken by Army for civil population, the spokesman said.

After the visit, the Defence Minister left for Trikuta hills to pay obeisance at the shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi. He will be returning to Delhi later today.

Yesterday, Parrikar had met the troops at the base camp of the world's highest battlefield of Siachen Glacier sector in Ladakh and reviewed security situation with top commanders.

The Defence Minister, who had interacted with the troops posted in the toughest deployment terrain, had praised the courage of the troops and their devotion to duty.