General Manoj Pande, the Chief of Army Staff, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Jammu to assess security following the Poonch attack on army vehicles that claimed the lives of four Jawans. To assess the security situation in the valley, the minister of defense will make visits to Rajouri and Jammu today. Last Thursday in the Rajouri sector, two Army vehicles were ambushed by heavily armed terrorists near Thanamandi, resulting in the deaths of four Army personnel and the injuries of three others. Ahead of the visit by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, security in Jammu has been stepped up. The Indian Army intends to deploy more troops in the Poonch-Rajouri sector in response to the recent uptick in attacks against its forces in an effort to curtail Pakistani terrorist activity there, according to sources.
“An additional brigade-size formation had been moved into the area a few months ago. It is planned that another brigade will come there along with a few other units to support counter-terrorist operations,” sources in the Army informed.
The move is expected to strengthen the counter-terrorist grid in the area and increase the confidence of the local population.
The local police have also strengthened their intelligence network and are expected to beef it up further.
The Army is also conducting a Staff Court of Inquiry against the 13-Sector Rashtriya Rifles Commander, who is a Brigadier, for the recurring lapses in operations in which the Army has lost many troops.
The Staff Court of Inquiry is being headed by a Major General-rank officer who would also be taking responsibility for the deaths of three civilians who were taken into custody by 48 RR troops right after the Dera ki Gali terror attack, in which four troops were killed and their bodies were also mutilated.