Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 5: Samba police and Special Operations Group (SOG), Jammu last night conducted massive searches operations at village Ramgarh and surrounding areas in Samba district after an input by an Intelligence agency regarding infiltration of four militants. The Border Security Force (BSF) manning the border categorically denied the input saying there was no question of infiltration of militants from the International Border (IB).
Teams of Samba police and SOG Jammu cordoned off most of the areas at Ramgarh and surrounding areas having approach to the International Border late last night and launched search operations after getting the input from an Intelligence agency that four militants had sneaked into this side from Pakistan.
The searches continued till early this morning but movement of the militants was not observed, official sources said, adding the input appeared to be “incorrect’’. Still, they said, police and SOG was not taking any chances and have strengthened nakas in the entire area leading from the IB in Ramgarh to Jammu-Pathankot National Highway. However, there was nothing to suggest that successful infiltration has taken place.
Police have also alerted the Village Defence Committees (VDCs) in the area and asked them to step-up night vigil.
When approached, the local BSF officers contested the input given by the Intelligence agency on infiltration of the militants saying they were maintaining high level alert on the border and no movement of the militants has been reported.
“The input is incorrect,’’ they said.
Sources pointed out that there has been movement of militants on Pakistan side opposite Ramgarh, Samba and Hiranagar sectors but there had been no report that the militants had sneaked-in or tried to sneak-in.
“There has been movement of the militants across the border on Pakistan side. The militants were awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side but alert BSF has not allowed them to do so,’’ they said.
As reported, nearly 35 well trained militants have been trying to enter into this side from Hiranagar, Samba and Ramgarh sectors for the past sometime but haven’t succeeded,’’ sources said.
Sources admitted that the militants might make the infiltration attempts during foggy weather conditions by the end of this month and start of next month. However, the BSF has already put a winter strategy in place and would ensure that the infiltration attempts didn’t succeed.
Meanwhile, the Border Security Force (BSF) today recovered another rusted H 36 hand grenade at village Bain in Samba after it was spotted by a civilian, who sounded 126 battalion of the BSF.
The BSF defused the grenade safely.
Yesterday also, a civilian had spotted a grenade in the same villages, which the BSF had seized and defused.
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