Anti-infiltration measures top agenda
*All possible intrusion routes to be plugged
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 10: A high-level team of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and senior BSF officers today visited the International Border (IB) in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district for assessment of the situation including anti-infiltration measures, strengthening of Border Out Posts, detection of cross-border tunnels, if any, and other issues pertaining to plugging the intrusion routes of the terrorists.
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The team was led by Prashant Lokhande, Joint Secretary MHA, Incharge Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh Affairs and comprised Mahesh Dixit, Special Director Intelligence Bureau (IB), Puneet Rastogi, Additional DG BSF, MHA, SS Khandare, Additional DG BSF Western Command and Shashank Anand, IG BSF Jammu Frontiers. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Jammu Zone, Bhim Sen Tuti also joined the team.
Soon after arrival from New Delhi, top officers of MHA and BSF proceeded to Bobiya area near the International Border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district and reviewed the situation including identification and plugging of possible infiltration routes as earlier there had been reports that the terrorists whose movement was spotted at Hiranagar, followed by Ghati in Kathua and then Billawar forests in March had entered into the Indian territory from this sector.
There were reports that the terrorists may be taking riverine route or Pakistan may have dug cross-border tunnel to push the infiltrators into the Indian territory. However, anti-tunnelling operations are repeatedly being undertaken by the BSF but no tunnels have been spotted. Long time back, cross-border tunnels were found along the International Border in Samba and Kathua districts.
While there was no official statement, sources said strengthening anti-infiltration measures topped agenda of the high-level team of MHA and BSF during their visit to Hiranagar sector whether it is through riverine route, cross-border tunnel, crossing fencing etc.
After nearly three-hour long stay on the International Border and having detailed discussions with the senior BSF and police officers of Jammu, the high-level team returned to New Delhi this afternoon.
The team also met local people living near Bobiya and took their view points on different issues.
“A series of measures are expected to be put in place shortly to plug all possible infiltration routes of the terrorists all along the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts,” the sources said, adding the strategy will be in place and will be implemented shortly.
Police have also raised Border Out Posts (BOPs) behind the BSF pickets for keeping surveillance on any kind of intrusions while the Village Defence Guards (VDGs) are also being recruited at vulnerable areas which can be used by the terrorists for infiltration from Pakistan.
In March-end this year, two groups of terrorists were reported to have sneaked into this side from Hiranagar sector. Initially, they were engaged at Hiranagar followed by Ghati area of Kathua district on March 27. Four police personnel were martyred and two terrorists were killed in Ghati while rest of the terrorists (two to three) had escaped towards Billawar forests and despite being engaged, they remained untraced.
Prior to that, the terrorists intercepted at Nagrota and Jhajjar Kotli on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway had also infiltrated from Kathua. They were killed in operations by the security forces but the persons who were taking them to Kashmir had then disclosed that they had also transported more groups to the Valley.
Sources said the MHA wants to ensure that there is no fresh infiltration from any place along the International Border in Jammu, Samba and Kathua besides the Line of Control (LoC) and, for the purpose, all possible measures are being put in place.
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