LoC killings: Army chief to review security situation in Poonch today

Army chief General Bikram Singh will visit Poonch on Wednesday to review the situation after the killing of five Indian soldiers along Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to television reports, General Singh is scheduled to visit the Division headquarters in Rajouri and the 93 Brigade headquarters to take stock of the security situation.

General Singh is also expected to meet the Commanding Officer and troops of the units whose personnel were killed in Pakistan's Border Area Team action, reports said.

Five Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush by Pakistani troops in Poonch District late on Monday night.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony has strongly condemned Pakistan's firing on the Indian side of the LoC in the Poonch sector.

"We strongly condemn this unprovoked incident. The Government of India has lodged strong protest with the Government of Pakistan through diplomatic channels. I assure the House that our Army is fully ready to take all necessary steps to uphold the sanctity of the LoC," Antony said in a suo moto statement in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

"The Government of India conveys its condolences to the families of the martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty," he added.

Antony informed that a patrol of the Indian Army comprising of one Non Commissioned Officer and five other ranks was ambushed on our side of Line of Control in Poonch Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

"In the ensuing firefight, five Indian soldiers were martyred and one soldier was injured. The ambush was carried out by approximately 20 heavily armed terrorists along with persons dressed in Pakistan Army uniforms," he said.

The Defence Minister informed that the numbers of infiltration attempts have doubled this year in comparison to the corresponding period (January 1- August 5) of 2012.

"There has also been 57 cease fire violations this year, which is 80 percent more than the violations last year during the same corresponding period. The Indian Army successfully eliminated 19 hardcore terrorists in the recent months of July and August along the Line of Control and in the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir," said Antony.

"The effective counter infiltration grid on the Line of Control has ensured that 17 infiltration bids were foiled this year," he added.