Surge in ceasefire violations, Army chief to visit Kashmir on April 16

Following a surge in the ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane will be visiting Kashmir Valley in order to review the operational situation and preparedness of the forces.

Srinagar: Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane will visit Kashmir on Thursday to review the operational situation and preparedness following the surge in infiltration attempts and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), Army officials said. The visit comes at the time when both India and Pakistan are facing a crisis situation due to coronavirus pandemic.

"The Army chief would be in Srinagar to review the anti-militancy and counter-infiltration operations by the 15 corps and is likely to review the operational preparedness of the posts along LoC, " Col Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesperson based in Srinagar told ETV Bharat.

He further said, "The enemy (Pakistan) country has recently increased the ceasefire violations to push militants in our side."

Recently, the Indian Army claimed to have carried out precision strikes against militants launch pads along Pakistan side.

"The operation was carried out in retaliation to the series of ceasefire violations and infiltration attempts by Pakistan Army in Kupwara's Keran sector, " Col Kalia said.

The Keran sector was also the site of the fierce close-quarter gun-battle in which five militants were gunned down on April 5. Five Indian Para-SF commandos were also killed during the encounter with militants who had infiltrated into Indian side on April 1.

According to the official figures, over 1,200 ceasefire violations happened this year, with 367 in January, 382 in February and 411 in March. Last year, there were as many as 3,479 ceasefire violations across the LoC and international border in J&K.