Indian soldiers patrolling near the Line of Control. (File Pic)
JAMMU – Security agencies have identified over 20 entry routes along the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir and have put in place multi-tier security to thwart any attempt by Pakistan to infiltrate armed militants.
According to intelligence inputs, over 60 armed terrorists have infiltrated along Line of Control in Kashmir valley and over 20 militants from LoC areas falling in south of Pir Panchal areas in the last two months.
Over 20 infiltration routes have been identified and security grid has been strengthened to prevent entry of armed men, officials said.
Two to three tier security has been put in place including anti-infiltration obstacle system of border fencing, they said.
Apart from first tiers of security of army and BSF, village defence committees (VDCs) along LoC and IB, police have been activated and checkpoints have come up and patrolling done in the hinterland around the border, they said.
All police stations and police posts have also been alerted to keep a tab on suspected movement in the border areas apart from activation of VDCs in border belts, they said.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in a meeting with Army and BSF officers on Thursday, had instructed the forces to put the anti-infiltration grid along the Pakistani border on high alert.
According to inputs received from various sources in the Counter Infiltration Grid (CIG), around 60 militants have infiltrated the Valley, using from higher reaches of Gulmarg, Bandipora and Boniyar in Baramulla (north Kashmir) to reach southern parts of the state via Yusmarg, the route taken by the tribal raiders from Pakistan.
Bandipora-Gangbal-Chatergul route, which had remained dormant over the years, is used by the militants this time, sources said adding that Gujjars have revealed about the presence of militants in these upper reaches.
The infiltration routes have been identified along the LoC and International Border in Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara in districts, the sources said.
“The militants are taking advantage of thick woods, dry nallahs, riverine and zero populated areas to infiltrate from PoK to Jammu and Kashmir,” an official said.
BSF troops guarding over 180 km of IB with Pakistan have strengthened their observation posts and “listening posts” to keep a close watch against any intrusion by drones.
The BSF is also patrolling riverine areas along the IB and has deployed water patrol teams in the Chenab river to foil militants’ design to infiltrate into India from Pakistan, the officials said.
There are also reports of presence of militants in Goi-Kahuta-Chirat belt, Kotli-Sensa belt, Mirpur-Bindi, Samani-Kudiali-Garnum belt and Sailkote-Zafarwala belt. (PTI)
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