Army commander warns of terror strike during Shivratri

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 disclosed in Pathankot on Saturday with an assurance that steps have been taken to deal with it.

"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," Western Army Commander Lt Gen K J Singh told media persons.

When asked to elaborate, he refused 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 intention 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."

With regard to the detection of a tunnel in Jammu on the International Border with Pakistan, he said it had helped avert a major terror attack.

He added that 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.

"Definitely, a major terrorist attack has been foiled with the detection of the tunnel. It is a very serious matter and MHA has constituted a team which has got representatives from security agencies, Survey of India. They are going to survey the entire fencing and put in place the measures to seal whatever gaps are there," the Western Army Commander said.