Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 19: The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) have sounded fresh advisories to Jammu and Kashmir to guard against all possibilities of infiltration attempts by the militants both along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in the State ahead of United States President Barrack Obama’s Republic Day visit in the country.
“In view of the latest advisory, the BSF has strengthened its position with deployment of 1200 additional personnel along the IB and intensifying 24×7 patrolling all along the border including the riverine belt, where the fencing was not complete,” official sources told the Excelsior.
The MHA and IB have issued separate advisories to Jammu and Kashmir calling upon all security agencies to ensure that the militants, who were bent upon carrying out terror attack in the State on the eve of Obama’s visit, didn’t succeed.
Army and BSF have strengthened their positions all along the LoC and IB while police and Village Defence Committees have been geared up as second line patrolling to watch against movement of the militants, they said.
To plug all possible infiltration routes along 192 kilometers IB in Jammu sector, the BSF has deployed 1200 additional personnel in view of the advisories of the MHA and IB and stepped up vigil all along the borders.
“The gaps, which have not been fenced, were being patrolled round-the-clock to ensure that the militants didn’t managed to sneak-in,” sources said, adding that the fenced areas were also being guarded effectively.
Army has also stepped-up patrolling all along the LoC to ensure that there was no infiltration by the militants.
Sources said the IB in Jammu sector has been witnessing an increasing number of infiltration attempts and some recent intercepts indicated that Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Toiba is planning to orchestrate an attack if they manage to sneak in.
About 10-12 BSF companies have been deployed to bolster the existing units on the borders.
One BSF company has an approximate working strength of about 100 troops.
Sources said infiltration attempts from across the border are occurring on daily basis and dense fog and winter chill is posing a big challenge to the security forces deployed in this area.
“Some intercepts about three days back indicates that the LeT is planning some big attack in the country and hence vigilance has been mounted along this border,” they said.
The additional troops are part of the special combat teams of the BSF which are placed at strategic locations to keep a check on illegal crossings in the day and especially during night.
BSF IG Jammu Frontiers Rakesh Sharma said: “it has always been noticed in the past that during the VVIPs visit to India, Pakistan always tried to create some kind of tension on the borders and similar attempt by the neighbouring country can’t be ruled out during Obama’s visit to India.
He said the BSF was on alert and elaborate arrangements had been made to foil any kind of nefarious design from the Pakistan side.
“There are inputs of rising terrorist activities on the other side of the border and attempts of infiltration may also be made but befitting reply will be given to any such kind of activity,” said the IG.
Asserting that the BSF was fully geared up to give a befitting reply to any kind of anti-national activity from across the border, Sharma said the ‘K’ (Kashmir) factor was the reason behind Pakistan shifting its attention to the IB from the LoC.
“Though there is a brief lull on the LoC with context to cross border terrorism and ceasefire violations, Pakistan has shifted its attention to International Border only to keep the ‘K’ factor alive,” Sharma said.
“It is unfortunate that they have now started targeting the civilians,” he added.
Sharma said they (Pakistan) wanted to disturb peace in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Jammu region in one way or the other with an aim to keep the ‘Kashmir Factor’ alive.
On the present situation along the IB, the IG said: “at the moment, the border is calm but it is an ‘untrusted calm’.
“The BSF is always on alert and all arrangements with regard to security, are in place,” he said, adding that attempts to sneak into the Indian territory are being made but “we have successfully foiled all the bids”.
He claimed that five infiltration attempts from Pakistan’s side were foiled during this month alone.
It was not easy to find out the number of militants waiting at the launching pads but there was a presence and (militants) are making all efforts to infiltrate, he added.
“As winter season is on, the border mechanism is also in place and all gadgets and technology are being used to counter any unwanted movement close to the border,” Sharma said.
The IG said ‘shoot at sight’ – are the directions given to the BSF personnel to check anti-national or suspicious movement along the border.
Meanwhile, the civilian population has demanded construction of concrete bunkers on the IB so that they can shift there at the time of exchange of fire.
“We have forwarded the proposal to the civil administration and steps have also been taken.
The Union Government is also thinking on the matter,” he added.
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