May 24, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 18, 1429

SRINAGAR, May 23: India will deal “resolutely and firmly” with any border violations, President Pratibha Patil said on Friday as she addressed soldiers guarding the Line of Control.

“I am confident that any violation of our borders will be dealt with resolutely and firmly,” Patil said in a speech to soldiers at a camp in Baramulla town, some 55km north of occupied Srinagar.

“We must guard our borders with full dedication and bravery,” she said.

Patil arrived at Srinagar’s high-security airport earlier and then flew to the LoC, where she had lunch with troops who cheered her visit.

Patil, who was elected India’s first woman president last year, was slated to stay in Kashmir for four days on her maiden official trip to the region wracked by an 18-year-old insurgency against New Delhi’s rule.

Indian soldiers backed by police and paramilitary have declared several areas “out of bounds” for civilians in Srinagar to ensure Patil’s security during her visit to the city.—AFP