Baramulla, Oct 27: The army Monday said that over the past few weeks there is a considerable reduction in the Ceasefire Violation and the overall violence along the Line of Control in the Valley which remains to be seen how long it will remain.

It said that the army has been able to plug the infiltration to a large extent this year and the smuggling of weapons and drugs from across the LoC too has been stopped.

Talking to media men at north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on the occasion of Infantry Day—October 27—the day Indian army landed in the Valley, General officer Commanding (GoC) of Baramulla based army’s 19 Infantry division Major General Virender Vats said that since past few weeks, there has been a reduction in violence and CFVs along the LoC in Kashmir.

“Pakistan has not been able to succeed in infiltration. As far as the reduction in violence along the LoC, whether it’s a change of mindset by Pakistan, it would be too early to judge. We don’t know how long the same situation will last,” Vats said.

He said that the army has a fair amount of control on the LoC situation. “The resources we have at the LoC are quite adequate and infiltration has been largely plugged this year,” the GoC 19 Infantry Division said.

Asked whether the China situation has resulted in some issues on the LoC, he said that there has been no let-up in the vigil of the army despite the China situation.

To a query whether drugs and weapon smuggling has from across LoC has been stopped, the army officer said that there had been efforts by the neighbour to transport weapons and drugs using drones etc “in plain areas of LoC.”

“We strengthened our mechanism and today I can say that no weapon or drug consignment is coming from across the LoC,” he said.

About October 27, 1947, Major General Vats said that the day is observed as Infantry Day by the army as on this day, tributes are paid to soldiers who fought Pakistani invaders, who had reached “Baramulla and were killing people.”

“At 10:30 am on this day in 1947, the first Sikh battalion landed at Srinagar airport. They were led by Lieutenant Colonel Dewaan Ranjeet Rai, who headed towards Baramulla and had a face to face fight with the enemies.

He sacrificed his life while preventing the invasion. The process through non-state actors and proxies by our neighbour was stated in 1947 and is still on. Our enemy has been defeated on all fronts and today Kashmir is peaceful,” he said, adding that “We hope Kashmir will be more peaceful in the days ahead.”—(KNO)