Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 17: In a rare case of its kind, the Border Security Force (BSF) today recovered four Pakistani SIM cards and two mobile handsets of Nokia and Samsung companies on the International Border (IB) after thwarting an infiltration attempt at forward village of Abdullian in RS Pura sector.
Seizure of Pakistani SIM cards and mobile handsets came just few days after the recovery of a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives at Balakote sector in Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district on the Line of Control (LoC).
Official sources told the Excelsior that the alert jawans of 94 BSF observed movement of at least two infiltrators between Pillar Nos 870 and 871 at Abdullian forward area of RS Pura sector at about 2.15 am today and opened firing. The BSF jawans reportedly fired 35 rounds to neutralize the infiltrators.
The intruders reportedly threw some dresses, Pakistani SIM cards and mobile handsets before fleeing back to Pakistan. However, contrary to infiltration attempt in Ballad forward post of Ramgarh sector in Samba district few days back, the Rangers didn’t give any cover to the infiltrators.
In the morning, the BSF conducted searches along the IB in Abdullian and recovered one white colored `shirt’ in whose pockets two Pakistani SIM cards and one Samsung mobile phone had been hidden. At another place between International Border and fencing, the jawans recovered another mobile handset of Samsung and two more Pakistani SIM cards.
The security personnel carried out searches in the area but no arrests were made from the spot. Also, there were no traces of the infiltrators leading towards the Indian territory, which indicated that the intruders hadn’t managed to enter into this side.
Three SIM cards belonged to Pakistan’s Warid company and one Jaaz Company.
Sources said the security agencies were working on two theories-one that the Pakistani SIM cards and mobile handsets were meant for the militants, which had to be delivered to them by their couriers as per the fixed spot and second that they could have been sent to this side for narcotics or fake currency smugglers.
“In both the cases, the matter is serious. International telephone calls from landline or mobile telephones are barred to Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Jammu and Kashmir due to security reasons. The Pakistani SIM cards received signals along the LoC and IB as the telecom companies of the neighbouring country have deliberately installed the towers close to the border to help the militants and smugglers take calls on Pakistani SIM cards,” sources said.
They added that the intruders had originated from forward village of Nandpur in Pakistan, bordering Abdullian area of RS Pura. They didn’t rule out the possibility of the militants or the narcotics smugglers retrieving after observing movement of alert BSF jawans on this side.
Two couriers were being questioned in this connection to ascertain whether it was a militancy or narcotics related case.
Senior BSF and police officers today visited the spot and examined the SIM cards and mobile handsets. The SIM cards were being sent to cyber experts to ascertain whether they contained any data including the mobile numbers and names. Sources said the BSF would handover the Pakistani SIM cards to police station RS Pura for further investigations.
The senior BSF officers held a high level meeting at RS Pura border to counter any further infiltration attempts as there had already been reports that a number of ultras were camping at launching pads across LoC and IB and awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side during summer.
On May 6, a group of militants had tried to intrude into Indian side from Ballad Post of Ramgarh sector in Samba district. The BSF had thwarted the intrusion bid, which was facilitated by the Rangers with covering fire.
On May 11, Army and police had recovered a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives including four AK-47 rifles and four pistols at the LoC in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil. It was believed that the recoveries had been sent in advance by the militants using some guides to pick them after infiltration. However, the terror plot of the militants was foiled with timely recoveries.
Sources said the security and Intelligence agencies were anticipating more infiltration attempts along the LoC and IB during the summer as strength of the militants has strongly depleted.
Meanwhile, DIG BSF, Jammu Frontiers, Narinder Singh Jamwal and DIG BSF (G) Branch J S Oberoi told reports at the International Border after reviewing the situation that the BSF saw movement of two militants/smugglers and opened firing. The intrusion bid was foiled, Mr Jamwal said, adding that the intruders threw packets on this side while fleeing, which were seized in the morning.
He said the packets contained four Pakistani SIM cards and two mobile telephones.
Mr Jamwal said searches have been launched in the area.
“Whether it was infiltration attempt by the militants or the narco smugglers is being ascertained,” he added. He maintained that Abdullian had earlier also been used as an infiltration and smuggling route but, of later, the alertness by the BSF had thwarted designs of militants and smugglers.
Sources said the BSF held a flag meeting with the Rangers this afternoon and lodged a protest for allowing the infiltrators into the Indian side.
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