Western Command on high alert for Independence Day; post Gurdaspur terror attack

NEW DELHI: The Western Command of the Army has been put on high alert ahead of the Independence Day celebrations and in the wake of the Gurdaspur terror attack.

Army sources said that while the Northern Command is always in the high alert state due to the sensitive situation in areas under its operational mandate, the western High Command too has been put on high alert.

"This alert comes because Independence Day is coming up. All units in the Western Command is keeping extra vigil and is prepared to move quickly in case they are needed," a source said.

The development comes even as Pakistani defence personnel have started using 81-mm mortars -- normally used during war -- and snipers to target Indian jawans during the last few days of repeated ceasefire violations from across the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).

India has asserted that the Gurdaspur attack on July 27 had a Pakistan connection, saying there is "overwhelmingly conclusive" evidence that the three terrorists had infiltrated from there to carry out the strike.

Preliminary analysis of GPS data indicates that the terrorists had infiltrated from Pakistan through the area near Tash in Gurdaspur district where the Ravi river enters Pakistan.