New Delhi Mar 21 PTI The situation along the Line of Control remains stable after the armies of India and Pakistan agreed to observe a ceasefire in February last year the defence ministry said on Monday Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt replying to a question in Rajya Sabha said the Army has been keeping a strong vigil on the situation and it remains prepared to thwart any threat from inimical elements In a sudden and significant move aimed at reducing tensions the Indian and Pakistani armies on February 25 last year announced that they would cease firing across the LoC while recommitting themselves to a 2003 ceasefire agreement Without mentioning Pakistan he said Indian security forces deployed along the western borders are adequately poised to respond to any challenge posed by adversary across the entire conflict Referring to the international border IB with Pakistan Bhatt said there are indications of an emerging narco-terror nexus sponsored by inimical elements across the border The situation along Line of Control LoC remains stable post the Directorate General of Military Operations DGMOs understanding of February 2021 Bhatt said The minister said both armies have exercised restraint in the interest of maintaining peace along the LoC However the situation is being closely monitored and Indian Army remains prepared to thwart any threat from inimical elements as also to respond in case of any escalation along the Line of Control he said Bhatt said the security situation along western borders IB sector remains largely stable However there are indications of an emerging narco-terror nexus sponsored by inimical elements across the border aimed at causing instability especially along the border areas he said Our forces along Western borders are adequately poised to respond to any challenge posed by adversary across entire conflict spectrum he added To a separate question Bhatt said a total of 91 officers have retired in lower rank Wing Commander despite having served in the higher rank of Group Captain in the Indian Air Force He however did not give the reason PTI MPB RT RT RT

Ghaziabad Aug 25 PTI In a tragic incident a 13-year-old girl fell to her death along with her puppy from the ninth-floor terrace of a residential building in Kavinagar area here while trying to save the pet police saidJyotsana a student of class seven and the only child of her parents was playing on the terrace with her pet puppy when the incident occurred on Wednesday The pets neck got stuck between the iron grills Jyotsana tried to save the puppy but lost her balance and fell to the ground with the petA security guard and other residents found the girl lying in a pool of blood She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors pronounced her brought dead they said adding the pet also diedDSP Anshu Jain said an autopsy was not conducted following a request from the deceased girls family The girls father Lalit Mohan Sharma is a manager with a private company PTI CORR RT RT RT