Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 3: The Border Security Force (BSF) today foiled an infiltration bid by two terrorists along the International Border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district and arrested a Pakistani national from another place in the same sector while both International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) remained calm after 20 Posts of Pakistan Rangers and army were decimated on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“There has been no firing in any part of the LoC in twin borders districts of Rajouri and Poonch since 3.30 pm yesterday when in a massive retaliatory action, Army had reduced six Pakistani posts to ashes across Mendhar and Balakote, which were targeting civilian areas in which two women were killed and over half a dozen civilians were injured,” official sources said.
Similarly, they added, there has been no report of any shelling or firing along the IB since 4 pm on Tuesday when the BSF had carried out major counter offensive against the Pakistan army and Rangers across Ramgarh and Arnia sectors destroying their 14 posts.
A number of Pakistan army personnel and Rangers have been killed in retaliatory action by Army and BSF, which was undertaken to save civilian lives as eight civilians including two children and two women were killed in Ramgarh and Manjakote (Rajouri) respectively on Tuesday.
Today’s infiltration attempt by two militants in Hiranagar sector along the IB was sixth by armed terrorists in the last fortnight.
“BSF troops noticed movement of two suspected terrorists along IB in Hiranagar sector, in the wee hours today,” sources said.
“They hid themselves after reaching the vicinity of IB,” he said.
Alert BSF troops fired in a calibrated manner and averted a possible infiltration attempt, sources said.
“Later, the infiltrators were seen retreating by taking advantage of dead ground and thick foliage,” they added.
The BSF had foiled three infiltration bids in the past 36 hours between October 29 and 30 by heavy armed terrorists along the International Border in Hiranagar sector.
Sources said that Pakistan was making continuous efforts to help the infiltrators and terrorists to enter into Indian side.
Since the forced infiltration was foiled on the intervening night of October 20 and 21, five infiltration bids have been foiled and a total of 14 infiltration bids have been foiled this year. Out of them, three bids were made on the 24 hours close to night of Diwali.
In an escalation on the tension along border, eight people, including two children, were killed and 22 injured on November 1 as Pakistani troops targeted civilian areas in Jammu region, inviting strong retaliation by Indian forces who killed two Pakistani soldiers and destroyed their 14 posts.
Meanwhile, one person was arrested today while allegedly moving suspiciously along International Border in Hiranagar sector.
The accused was moving under suspicious circumstances when he was caught by the people and handed over to police. A tobacco packet has been recovered from his possession. Further details are awaited, sources said.
He has disclosed his identity as Abdul Yousaf, 41, son of Mohammad Akram, a resident of Goregam, Pakistan.
Meanwhile, despite peace on IB and LoC, large number of people were not ready to return to their houses on LoC and IB in view of heavy loss of lives and injuries to civilians on Tuesday.
The border migrants have adopted wait and watch policy before returning to their houses as they fear that Pakistan army and Rangers could again target civilian areas once they return to their houses. Majority of border migrants have taken shelter in the houses of their relatives and friends in safer zones while others were camping in lodgment centres set up for them by the Government.
The migration has been reported from almost all the sectors including Hiranagar, Ramgarh, Arnia, RS Pura, Khour, Nowshera and Mendhar.
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