Militants threatened BSF porters last month, says Army

From The Indian Express

Arun Sharma : Udhampur, Tue Jun 18 2013

Suspected militants sneaked into Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on May 14 and threatened BSF's porters, head of the Northern Command Lt General K T Parnaik claimed Monday.

The incident took place at Sawjian, where the barbed-wire fence along the LoC runs far behind the Indian forward post manned by the BSF. The place is not far from where Pakistani Rangers beheaded two Indian soldiers in Mendhar in January this year.

The BSF had hired porters to carry supplies and they were walking towards the post when some men, suspected to have come from across the LoC, intercepted them and asked where they were headed. On learning they were porters, the suspected intruders manhandled them, seized the identity cards of some, and warned them of dire consequences if they were seen in the area again, Parnaik claimed. From the description given by the porters, the intruders appear to be militants, he added.

Lt Gen K T Parnaik also said the Centre is planning a mountain strike corps. The proposal is yet to get the nod of the Cabinet Committee on Security, he said.

Parnaik also denied that defence structures along the LAC were dismantled to end the standoff with China in Ladakh. He said since there has no firm line to defend, both sides have been patrolling the area. Over a period, both have been coming across each other's patrol. Both sides resolve issues as per existing mechanism, including showing banners, establishing contact through hotline and through border meetings, he said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/militants-threatened-bsf-porters-last-month-says-army/1130370/