Defence minister must visit border areas frequently: Parrikar

Every year, a defence minister should visit border areas "four to five times" especially in places where "firing" occurs, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.

"In a year, a defence minister must go to the border areas four to five times. By border, I mean the actual border. There is a need for the defence minister to go to the place in Jammu where there is firing," Parrikar said at a public function in Panaji.

"One cannot go every day, but it can happen once or twice in two to three months," he added.

Three people were killed and nearly 17 were injured in Jammu's R.S. Pura sector following mortar shelling by Pakistan on Friday.