Srinagar: In an attempt to curb infiltration across the border, security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir have made the decision to set in place ‘smart fencing’ along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in the state.
While the Army mans the LoC in Kashmir Valley, the BSF patrols the IB in Jammu region. Media sources have been intimated that both the army and BSF have conducted trials for ‘smart fencing’ at 5-kilometre stretch each on LoC and IB.
“The construction work on the new model of fencing is likely to start by April 2016. The Defence and Home ministries have kept April 2016 as deadline for start of the work when weather will open up and so will be the snow filled passes that would facilitate construction work smoothly,” it has been reported.
Sources said infiltrators would find the new fencing extremely difficult, if not impossible, to breach. “The smart fencing has hi-tech gadget to prevent infiltration attempts and alert the troops on duty if militants try to sneak through. Initially, the fencing will be constructed in vulnerable areas like Tangdhar, Keran and Gurez in Kashmir, Mendhar in Poonch and the stretch of IB in Jammu sector. Gradually, the entire LoC and IB in Jammu sector will be covered by smart fencing,” they added.
A senior army official confirmed that the trial work is over. “The trial was conducted on five kilometres along the LoC and IB and it was successful. The ground work has been done for the work in April next year,” he said.
The official said security agencies have identified “vulnerable areas” along LoC and IB that required smart fencing in the first phase. “Construction of smart fencing along the entire LoC and IB could take four to five years,” he said.
