Sanjeev Pargal
-Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Jan 4: At least 70 new militants, who were well trained in new kind of “sneak-in fidayeen attack strategy” were camping at five to six places in Sialkot area of Pakistan opposite Samba sector with a view to infiltrate into the Indian territory to carry out Arnia like terror attack before the visit of United States President Barrack Obama to India on January 26.
Even as there was no shelling or firing along the International Border (IB) since 11 pm last night, number of the border migrants swelled to about 3600 with 600 more people from different forward villages of Samba and Hiranagar sectors shifting to relief camps set up by the administration.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the BSF has received very specific Intelligence inputs that under the cover of mortar shelling and firing, Pakistan was also trying to push well trained Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) squads of “sneak-in fidayeen attack” militants, numbering about 70 and camping at five to six different places in Sialkot district of Pakistan opposite Samba and Hiranagar sector.
“The militants were well equipped with arms and explosives and new device ‘floaters’, which would safely help them swim through nullahs in Samba and Hiranagar sectors, in their infiltration attempts,” sources said, adding that the BSF not only had to counter firing and shelling from Pakistan but also thwart infiltration attempt by the militants.
BSF had foiled one such infiltration attempt by seven to eight militants in Samba sector on the intervening night of January 2 and 3.
Sources said the new cadre of LeT was well trained in sneak-in attack, which they had also shown in Arnia, where they had killed five civilians and three Army personnel before being eliminated. They had prolonged the encounter to one and half days.
“The militants were also trying to take advantage of dense fog, which has engulfed the plain areas along the IB reducing visibility to very negligible. However, the BSF was using its winter management strategy to beat the fog,” sources said.
They added that security forces and police have also alerted the civilians and asked them to keep vigil on any strangers moving in their areas.
All 70 trained Lashkar militants were Pakistanis, according to sources. They said the militants had full backing of Pakistan Army and Rangers, who have provided them with infiltration routes and other logistics apart from training in sneak-in attacks.
Meanwhile, even as there was no firing and mortar shelling from Pakistan side since 11.30 pm last night in any part of Hiranagar and Samba sectors, number of the migrants swelled to 3800 with more people shifting to relief camps in Samba sector.
While number of the migrants remained static at 1756 in Hiranagar sector, it went up from about 1200 to 1800 in Samba. The migrants have been lodged in Chichi Mata Ji temple, Breli Camp and Government higher secondary school, Rajpura in Samba.
Though there was no firing during the day today, the migrants didn’t return to homes in view of tense situation prevailing along the International Border in Hiranagar and Samba sectors. Almost all border villages in the two sectors remained deserted with people putting up in the relief camps.
Sources said Pakistani Rangers resorted to small arms firing in some areas of Samba and Hiranagar sectors between 11 pm to 11.30 pm last night. The BSF didn’t retaliate. After that, no shots were heard from any side on the IB. The day also passed off peacefully and there was no firing when the reports last came in late tonight.
However, the border migrants were not ready to return anticipating fresh shelling and firing from Pakistan side in which a woman was killed and 10 other civilians were injured yesterday in Hiranagar and Samba sectors.
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