Srinagar: Army troops are on high alert to scuttle any attempt by militants to sneak across the border to foment trouble in Jammu and Kashmir which goes to the polls next month, a senior army officer said today.

Since the election schedule has been announced in Jammu and Kashmir, militants will try to sneak this side to create trouble during the polls, general officer commanding 15th corps Lt Gen Mukesh Sabarwal told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony to mark the 61st year of Indian Army's arrival here.

On the role of the Army in the ensuing Assembly elections, he said, "our main task is to guard the borders besides provide security to common people at our place of posting."

"We will provide secure atmosphere to people and it is for them to take part in the elections to elect representatives of their choice," he said.

The polling in the first phase of the seven phased elections to the 87-member state assembly begins on November 17.

Sabarwal said the number of infiltration attempts from across the border has come down as compared to previous years.

Attempts are still being made to send more militants across the border before the infiltration routes close due to snowfall, he said.

"Though the number of infiltrations has come down this year, but we have not lowered guard," he said.

Intensification of night and foot patrolling, fencing and installing latest equipment has helped to curb the infiltration menace to quite an extent, he added.
Source : PTI