Army and Air Force helicopters have been put on alert following intelligence reports that militants in Jammu and Kashmir had procured Stinger missiles and remote pilotless vehicles, according to IAF sources.‘‘We have been asked to be alert and avoid flying over some specific places over the Pir Panjal range in view of reports that militants want to target choppers,’’ sources said. Air Chief in Srinagar Amid reports of terrorists in possession of Stinger missiles, Air Chief S. Krishnaswamy flew to Srinagar, in what was described by Air Headquarters, as a ‘‘routine inspection visit’’. IAF officials said they were yet to receive any reports on threats to helicopter operations. (ENS) According to telephone intercepts, cadre of Al-Badr, Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen have been asked by their Pak-based commanders to target choppers, the sources said, adding 19 such messages were intercepted. Choppers are used frequently in anti-insurgency operations in the region, where a majority of the militants are foreign mercenaries. Nearly 20 to 30 sorties are also undertaken by choppers in Doda, Poonch, Rajouri and Udhampur daily for carrying troops and supplies. As a result Army has beefed up security around 13 helipads at high altitudes in Doda, Rajouri and Poonch districts, sources said. The special group constituted by the Centre to suggest macro strategies to fight militancy reviewed the security and strategies adopted by forces and other agencies.IGP K. Rajindra Kumar said the aim of the meeting was to obtain consultation from state security and police agencies. Meanwhile, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal S. Krishnaswamy called on Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed this afternoon to apprise him about recruitment rallies being organised in the state for on-the-spot recruitment into the IAF.
