Army training border residents to identify infiltrators

JAMMU: The Army today said it was imparting training to residents of frontier areas so that they can differentiate between terrorists and Indian jawans and help them check cross-border infiltration.

"The army is imparting training to people residing along the IB so that they could make out between a terrorist and an Indian jawan," said General officer Commanding in Chief (GOC-in-C) of Western Command Lt Gen K J Singh.

"He (infiltrator) tries his best to portray himself as a soldier but in the process makes many identifiable mistakes. We have educated people residing in the border areas how to identify (such mistakes)," he said.

The army has educated people on how to pick out between an infiltrator from his dress and shoes.

"The border residents have developed a sixth sense as everyday they interact with the jawans of BSF and Territorial Army. Also, we have put some checks on ourselves. We have asked that no soldier will ever take a lift on a civilian vehicle," he said.

"The soldiers move in large groups, they don't operate individually. The terrorists never operate in a group of more than four people.

"The infiltrators are dressed shabbily with different shoes, they sport a bearded look whereas the soldiers follow a set of norms known to the local people," he said.

The GOC-in-C also expressed confidence over the army's ability to twart any infiltration attempt.