Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 29: After river, sea and now tunnel. Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has always in search of developing new infiltration routes to push militants into India particularly Jammu and Kashmir by dodging security agencies but most of the time, their plans have been thwarted.
A militant swimming his way into Pallanwalla sector in Akhnoor tehsil through deep and icy waters of Chenab from Pakistan, eight militants sailing through a sophisticated boat in sea waters from Karachi to Mumbai before falling into the hands of police in Rajouri and now nearly 280 meters long tunnel on the International Border in Samba sector bypassing fencing and mining area to help militants intrude from Pakistan directly into forward village of Chechwal in Samba.
These are among the few techniques, which Pakistan Army, ISI and other security agencies have used to push the militants into India on way to Jammu and Kashmir especially after both Line of Control and International Border were fencing and electronic gadgets were installed to curb the fencing.
Official sources pointed out that a militant sent from Pakistan had swam his way through icy waters of Chenab and reached Pallanwalla in Akhnoor but was spotted and captured by security agencies and police. Eight militants of Pakistan had boated all their way in sea waters from Karachi to Mumbai and then traveled on way to Rajouri where police arrested two of them. Rest had remained untraced.
The detection of 280 meters long tunnel on the International Border at Chechwal in Samba sector, which could easily go up to 500 meters after finding the exit route and taking the area of Pakistan into account, is a new technique developed by Pakistan Army, Rangers, ISI and militant commanders to push the terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir safely as they had been finding it difficult or, rather impossible, to intrude into this side after the fencing, deployment of electronic gadgets and surveillance by Army and BSF.
Security agencies believed that there could be some mischief from Pakistan even in the return of a large number of militants from Nepal border as they might have been won over by Pakistani agencies as it was not possible for a number of persons to manage passport and visa for flying to Kathmandu, Nepal from Pakistan.
Meanwhile, BSF jawans today stepped-up searches all along the IB in Jammu sector to find out whether such tunnels had been dug at other places also. Though there was remote possibility of more tunnels, the security forces were taking no chance and thoroughly monitoring the land.
The BSF have sent a detailed report to their Headquarters on detection of tunnel, which was equipped with hydroelectric oxygen and fresh air pipes and dug by professional people about 280 meters into Indian side from Pakistan.
Sources said the Defence Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry have also been given a detailed note about digging of the tunnel, the first of its kind on the border in Jammu and Kashmir since Pakistan sponsored militancy broke out 24 years back. They added that the issue was expected to be taken up at high level with Pakistan once a detailed report of the tunnel was prepared by the BSF including its length and exit route.
It may be mentioned here that security forces have not been able to find out exit of the tunnel so far. Once the exit was found, the exact length of the tunnel inside zero line from the fencing and Indian territory would be calculated. The length of the tunnel in Pakistan side was estimated around 200 meters starting from Lambriyal post of the Rangers in Shakargarh area.
The BSF experts, who have been requisitioned from New Delhi headquarters of the para-military force, couldn’t reach here today. Sources said they were expected here tomorrow or a day after to detect exact nature of the tunnel, most importantly, its exit.
As reported, the tunnel had been dug about 20 feet down the earth with three feet to four feet diameter inside and was fitted with hydro-electric plastic pipes for supply of oxygen and fresh air. The tunnel had been dug for infiltration of militants into this side.
Today, the BSF dug land about 50 feet away from the tunnel to find out the exit route but it couldn’t be detected so far.
A flag meeting was likely to be held between BSF and Rangers over the digging of tunnel, which has been taken very seriously by the security forces.
Meanwhile, IGP Jammu Dilbagh Singh visited the site of tunnel this evening and inspected the spot. He called upon the police personnel to remain alert near the border and ensure full protection to the villagers.
Senior officers of BSF, police, civil administration and Intelligence agencies were also camping at the spot.
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