Security has been tightened and vigilance increased in Himachal’s Chamba district along the borders with Jammu and Kashmir following recent militant attacks in the union territory.
In response, security personnel in Chamba, which borders Jammu and Kashmir, have been put on high alert, and patrolling has been intensified to prevent any infiltration attempts by extremists.
Chamba SP Abhishek Yadav stated that border outposts have been instructed to maintain high alert and increased vigilance. “Whenever such activities occur in our neighboring UT, we go on high alert and increase patrolling along the inter-state border,” he said.
Chamba district, which borders the Kathua and Doda districts of Jammu and Kashmir, shares over 200 km of border with the UT. The mountainous terrain facilitates infiltration by militants, necessitating heightened security measures. There are around 15 outposts on the Chamba-J&K border, guarded by the Himachal Police battalion.
Previously, the ITBP manned this sensitive border until 2012 when the central government decided to withdraw it. Security along this tranquil border was of little concern until 1998 when Pakistan-trained militants massacred 35 laborers in two separate incidents in Satrundi and Kalaban in Chamba district. This prompted the state government to recognize the urgency of deploying a central security agency to guard the border. Consequently, the state government decided to seal the areas and sought central assistance to secure its borders in the Chamba district adjoining the militant-infested regions of Jammu and Kashmir.
