Srinagar: As Army believes surge in the infiltration attempts from across the LoC, the army men deployed for the counter-infiltration grid will have special snipers to deal with the infiltrators.
Reliable sources told KNO that elite units of the Indian Army, equipped with deadly new sniper rifles, have been deployed along the Line of Control with Pakistan after special training from American and Italian experts.
Sources in the Army told KNO that units carrying the Beretta .338 Lapua Magnum Scorpio TGT and the Barrett .50 calibre M95 have been deployed at the LoC ahead of the infiltration season, which is expected to start soon.
Specials units, along with some regular soldiers from the LoC battalions, have been trained by experts from abroad on the use of these weapons and the different kinds of ammunition to be used based on operational requirements.
Sources said since these rifles have a much longer range and power than the ageing Russian Dragunov that the soldiers were using until now, specialized training had to be given so that targets could be taken out at over 1,000 metres with precision.
The US-made Barrett M95 is an anti-material rifle which has a range of 1,800 metres. An anti-material rifle means the bullet can actually pierce through metal.
The gun, which is in use with many Special Forces around the world, is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in a .50 Browing Machine Gun cartridge (12.7×99mm).In the summer months, the army expects rise in the infiltration attempts from across as has been the practice of the militants to sneak in large numbers as soon as the snow starts melting.
