Kashmir Infiltration: Indian Army Neutralises Pakistan's BAT Attempt; Security On High Alert

An owner of a tailoring shop in the Keran area close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district was arrested by the security forces after 15 grenades were recovered from his shop

Additional paramilitary forces have been deployed across Srinagar and other areas of Kashmir. (Representative Image/ Getty)

Srinagar: The prevailing terror threat in the state of Jammu and Kashmir remained to be on the edge on Sunday after an owner of a tailoring shop in the Keran area close to the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district was arrested by the security forces after 15 grenades were recovered from his shop. According to recent reports,  the man was identified as Parvez Khawaja and was arrested after an explosion took place inside his shop in the morning. One local resident is also said to have died in the explosion. After the explosion took place in the area, a joint team of police and the Indian Army reached the spot and arrested the tailoring shop owner. Post the incident, authorities have stepped up security deployment at vital installations and sensitive areas amid heightened terror threat and flare up of hostilities with Pakistan along the LoC. Earlier in the day, it was also said that despite gunning down four infiltrators, some Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists have managed to enter Indian territory amid escalation along the LoC. These infiltration attempts are made by Pakistan's Border Action Team (BAT).  The BAT generally comprises special forces personnel of the Pakistani Army. Additional paramilitary forces, which arrived here last week, have been deployed across Srinagar and in other vulnerable areas of Kashmir Valley, the officials said. The strength of the security personnel has been increased around vital installations such as the civil secretariat, police headquarters, airport and various central government establishments in the city, they said. Barricades have been erected on many arterial roads, including the entry and exit points to Srinagar, the summer capital of the state. Riot control vehicles have also been kept on standby in some areas where apprehension of law and order disturbances is more, the officials added. The Indian Army has asked its Pakistani counterparts to approach them by raising white flags and take possession of bodies which are lying on the Indian side of the LoC. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting in New Delhi with top security officials and is believed to have discussed the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir.  The hour-long meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and other senior officials. The meeting came amidst fresh skirmishes between security forces of India and Pakistan along the border with the Army foiling an attack by BAT on a forward post along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector, killing five to seven intruders. The Indian Army has asked its Pakistani counterparts to approach them by raising white flags and take possession of bodies which are lying on the Indian side of the LoC.