Army commander warns of 'disturbing inputs' about terror attack
05 Mar 2016
The attack on Pathankot Air Force base looks like a prelude to more attacks in the country that could be capable of creating even more media impact, a top Army commander was quoted as saying without elaborating on the possibilities. But, he said, steps have been taken to deal with it.
There are some "disturbing" inputs about a terror attack in India aimed at creating the "maximum media impact" during the Shivratri festival and the ongoing Parliament session, a top Army commander said in Pathankot on Saturday.
"There are security-related problems today. You know, Maha Shivratri is coming. There are inputs which are disturbing but notwithstanding that extra care has been taken," Lt Gen KJ Singh, commander of the Army's Western Command, told reporters on the sidelines of a function.
He refused to elaborate, but said such events are planned to create "maximum media impact".
"See elaboration is neither required nor warranted. These events (terror attacks) are planned to create maximum media impact and when can you create a media impact when Parliament is in session, when a festival is taking place, so both happen to be going on. So that is why, there are inputs but we have taken steps against that. I must assure you of that," he said.
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Western Command went on to add that such "mischievous" activities will not deter a great nation as the Indian Army is fully geared to meet any eventuality.
"We want to tell whoever has got this mischievous intentions that nothing can deter us, one Pathankot, one Arnia, one Janglot, once more Samba, cannot deter us. This nation is too great. Indian army is fully organised. We will take care of every situation," Lt Gen Singh said.
When asked about inputs that some Pakistan-based terrorist commanders were in touch with their Kashmiri counterparts, he said, "there are certain inputs. There are certain indications. I should only tell you this much that we are fully prepared for that."
The revelations follow the detection of a tunnel in Jammu on the international border with Pakistan, which helped avert a major terror attack.
He said a survey will be carried out in all the border areas to see if there are any more such tunnels, for which a team of officials of Home Ministry and other security agencies has been formed.
Meanwhile, India today invited Pakistan for conducting joint investigations into digging of tunnel from Pakistan to Indian side of the international border (IB) in RS Pura sector, which was detected yesterday by the security forces near Alla Mai De Kothe (AMK) Post.
Security forces held a high level review of the situation arising out of detection of a tunnel 10 feet underground and about 30 meters long inside Indian territory and about 200 to 300 meters in Pakistan.
In the evening, another flag meeting was held at the level of battalion commandants at the AMK Post in which senior officers of BSF and Rangers participated and India shared more evidence on tunnel with Pakistan. More such meetings could take place in future. The evening meeting followed after Sialkot Commander of the Rangers intentionally didn't pick up the phone to receive summons.
