WITH THE onset of winters, the borders of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh with Jammu and Kashmir have been sealed to stop and prevent entry of any extremists or terrorists to the state, disguised as shepherds. Normally, the shepherds of Chamba district return to their native villages from high hills to plains via Malurdhar, Mehlwar Gali, Khundi Maraland other high passes of the district every year.

This step has been taken following reports from the Army sources in Yol camp in the state that infiltrators from Jammu and Kashmir may try to sneak into the borders of Himachal Pradesh from high hill areas of Chamba district, disguised as shepherds.

There are occasions when herds of sheeps and goats were killed by the militants in high hill areas of the Chamba district in recent past.

Chamba district police chief, Madhu Sudan Sharma visited various parts of the high hills adjoining to Jammu and Kashmir to supervise the operations and had talks with the forces to know about their problems and difficulties while dealing with the anti-social and anti-national elements during the winter seasons every year.

Sharma exhorted upon the forces to be vigilant of the activities of the nefarious elements and ensure that no one with bad intentions entered the district from any part of adjoining states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The borders of the Chamba district are manned by the jawans of Indo Tibetan border police and that of India Reserve battalion of Himachal Pradesh.

Sharma told that strict vigilance was being kept on the borders of the district with the Jammu and Kashmir and he had strictly instructed the forces to ensure that no unwanted persons entered the state through high hills of the district.