Tight vigil intact; intensified patrolling along vulnerable border areas: Officials
Srinagar, Sep 02Security forces have foiled seven infiltration attempts along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir so far this year, killing several terrorists and intruders, officials said on Wednesday.
The Army, Border Security Force (BSF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police have maintained a tight security grid along the sensitive frontier, with intensified surveillance, patrolling and area domination to prevent attempts by terrorists to enter the Union Territory, officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
The infiltration attempts were reported at different locations along the LoC and IB, including Samba, Sunderbani, Bhimber Gali, Nowshera, Uri, Poonch and Rajouri, according to officials.
The first major incident was reported on January 25 when security forces shot dead a Pakistani intruder while he was attempting to cross the International Border in Samba district.
On February 19, alert troops of the Army’s White Knight Corps detected and foiled an infiltration attempt along the LoC at Nathua Tibba in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri district.
A major infiltration bid was subsequently thwarted in the Bhimber Gali sector on March 4 through coordinated ground action backed by intelligence and surveillance inputs, officials said.
On March 10, security forces neutralised a Pakistan-sponsored terrorist while foiling an infiltration attempt in the Jhangar area of the Nowshera sector.
Another infiltration attempt was crushed in the Buchhar area of the Uri sector in Baramulla district during the intervening night of March 14 and 15, resulting in the killing of a terrorist.
On May 12, armed infiltrators were challenged nearly 300 metres inside Indian territory in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch. One Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was killed in the ensuing operation, officials said.
Fresh infiltration bids were also detected and intercepted in forward areas of the Rajouri sector in late August, with troops opening fire to prevent the infiltrators from crossing the LoC, they said.
Officials said the security forces have further strengthened surveillance along vulnerable stretches following the repeated infiltration attempts.
The Army and BSF are maintaining close coordination in sectors including Gurez, Uri, Karnah, Tangdhar, Sunderbani and Nowshera.
Drones and quadcopters equipped with high-resolution and night-vision cameras are being used for surveillance, while smart fencing and other technological measures have been installed at vulnerable points, officials said.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police has also strengthened checking and patrolling in border areas and at key entry and exit points.
Officials said the coordinated deployment of the Army, BSF and police has helped maintain peace along the frontier, with troops continuing to remain on alert against any fresh infiltration attempt. (KNO)
