Shalabatoo intrusion; ‘Army to probe lapses’ Srinagar, Oct 6: As the gun battle in Shala Bhata area of Keran sector is reaching in its last leg, the army headquarters is set to order an inquiry into the lapses on the part of the local commander. Sources said an internal Inquiry by a Brigadier- level officer will be looking into possible negligence on the part of 3/3 Gorkha unit, which was responsible for guarding the area. “Nobody can deny the fact that there was negligence on the part of the unit posted there. How did about 40 heavily armed militants manage to enter 400 mtrs inside our territory? Not only did the militants cross the LoC, but they also took key positions to engage the army. A fact finding inquiry will only look into these aspects, “said senior official said. The inquiry will also look how during the change of guard from 20 Kumaon to 3/3 Gorkha, such massive infiltration bid took place. 3/3 Gorkha took over from 20 Kumaon regiment barely a few days before the intrusion took place. After the killing of five soldiers in Poonch in early August, an inquiry established laxity on the part of the patrolling team which was ambushed by the Border Action Team. Meanwhile, strategists in the army are surprised as to how 30-40 militants managed to fight with about 1300-strong force of the army. “We have inputs that the militants are using hi-tech gadgets including Global Position System to monitor the ground situation and then strike accordingly,” said a source. Though army chief General Bikram Singh has rejected any comparison of the current encounter with Kargil, the army has already indicated involvement of special troops from Pakistan army in the militants with the skill and methodology these militants have been fighting. Though Pakistan has denied of such things, the Pakisatn army cannot deny the fact that on September 26, its troops opened heavy artillery guns to give militants cover so they could enter further deep into Indian territory.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:03:50 +0000
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