NOWSHERA: With spurt in ceasefire violations by Pakistan after India’s surgical strikes targeting terror camps, army has said that its “guard is up” along the Line of Control to reply to any eventuality, including BAT attacks.

“The guard is up. We are on alert. We are ensuring that our LoC should be safe,” said a senior army officer, manning the area of operation in Nowshera sector which falls opposite to Bhimber- one of the sites across the LoC targeted during the anti-terror operation on September 28 night.

Army took a team of media persons along the Line of Control to brief them on the situation, especially after the heavy firing by Pakistani troops post the cross-LoC surgical strike. “Defences at LoC are well prepared. Jawans are well motivated and morale is high. Our troops are prepared for 24X7 for any eventuality along the LoC,” the officer told reporters. There is a foolproof security mechanism in place and anti-infiltration measures have also been activated to foil infiltration of militants or any kind of BAT attack, the officier said India had blamed Border Action Team (BAT), which is a mix of Pakistani special forces personnel and terrorists, for the brutal killing of its two soldiers in January 2013, one of whom was beheaded, and many other deadly attacks on troops along the LoC. “Our jawans are keeping a close eye and high degree of vigilance on the movement across the border to foil any design,” the officer said. There have been over 26 ceasefire violations from Pakistan on LoC in which four soldiers and five civilians suffered injuries and 11 shops were gutted. The heavy shelling and firing that followed the surgical strikes have resulted in displacement of thousands of border dwellers in Nowshera sector in Rajouri district. Despite the terrorising explosions from mortar bombs and the rattle of guns, people are reluctant to leave their houses and say they will help the Army. “We are not leaving our homes despite firing and shelling. We hope that it will also boost the morale of the Army,” S Singh, a Sarpanch (headman) of Gandrote, said. Most of the hamlets located along LoC in Nowshera are home to hundreds of ex-servicemen. “In case of any shelling and firing, we will put the villagers in safe houses to ensure their safety and security,” an army officer said. “We are prepared to give a befitting reply in the language that Pakistan understands,” said a jawan, deployed at the forward post on a hill top.—PTI