Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 30: After the detection of nearly 400-meters long tunnel at the Indo-Pak border in Samba sector recently, the Border Security Force (BSF) has set up a high-level board for the extensive scanning of the International Border (IB) to rule out the existence of any such underground passages while no impact of the recent tension at the LoC in Poonch sector has been witnessed along the IB in Jammu sector.
Talking to media-persons at the sidelines of a function organized at BSF headquarters, Paloura here today, IG BSF Jammu Frontier, Rajiv Krishna said a high level board of BSF officers involving some technical experts has been set up for examining possibility of the existence of any such tunnel along the western border with Pakistan. He disclosed that IG BSF, Punjab Frontier will head the board which will conduct the extensive scanning along nearly 2,289 km of the IB along Pakistan involving J&K, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
On a tip off provided by a local farmer, the BSF authorities had detected the 400-meters tunnel from Pakistan to India along Indo-Pak Border in Samba district in July last year. The Home Ministry had taken serious note of it and several top officials including DG BSF had visited the site.
“It is a matter of very serious concern. This exercise is not only being carried out in Jammu sector but also along the entire western border. The Scientists and experts from various institutions are involved in the exercise and interim measures along the Jammu frontier are being taken, the BSF IG said.
“We have identified certain places based on the soil quality and other geographical and topographical features besides other intelligence inputs,” he said, adding, ” We made changes in our deployment plan accordingly for security reasons.”
The IG BSF disclosed that a team of Scientists have recently visited Jammu frontier’s border in connection with detection of the tunnel. The Samba tunnel, which was apparently dug for infiltration and smuggling, was detected on July 28 last year after an area `caved-in’ near the border fencing near Chilayari Border Out Post of BSF.
The tunnel at a depth of 25-ft had been dug out between two sides along the IB on India’s Chillayari BoP and Pakistan’s Lambriyal BoP. It had air supply through a narrow pipe. The tunnel was discovered accidentally by a farmer of Chachwal village. This act prompted the BSF to conduct an exhaustive survey of all those vulnerable spots and areas along the border to detect any possible signs of a tunnel similar to the one unearthed.
Reacting to a question regarding any development or impact witnessed along IB in Jammu sector after tension at LoC in Poonch sector, the IG said,” No impact of the tension along the LoC in Mendhar area of Poonch has been observed along the IB in Jammu Frontier. There is no co-relation between the two and the border is peaceful here.”
He however, said some extra ordinary steps were taken and changes in the strategy at different unit levels along IB in Jammu sector were effected after it. He ruled out any additional deployment of forces along the IB in this sector after this Poonch development where two Indian soldiers were mercilessly murdered by Pakistani troops after crossing LoC. Even no additional deployment of forces was observed on that side by Pakistan, he added.
After that incident and the subsequent flag meeting, there has been some dec line in the incidents of ceasefire violations along borders. But there is spurt is the infiltration attempts during past one year along the Jammu sector. “ In last four years, there was not even single successful infiltration attempt along IB and one can say that infiltration level is `zero’ along the IB in Jammu sector but attempts are going on which are being thwarted effectively by the alert BSF men,” Krishna added.
Replying to a question, the IG said on the basis of intelligence inputs there are nearly 30 to 45 number of militants waiting on that side to cross over to this side of the IB in Jammu sector. They are waiting for the opportunity at different launching pads on that side of IB. About half a dozen militants’ training camps are operating on that side of the Jammu frontier at present but their number always go on changing, he maintained.
“Some times, movement of suspicious people is observed closer to the IB. It is being witnessed during particular time and some identified places. The vigil along the border has been further intensified after Poonch incident. Sufficient electronic gadgets have been placed to check the infiltration and senior officers closely monitor the activities, ” the IG added.
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