Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 18: The Border Security Forces (BSF) has undertaken major drive to plug gaps especially around riverines all along 187 kilometers International Border (IB) from Lakhanpur to Akhnoor spread over three border districts of Kathua, Samba and Jammu to block infiltration attempts by the militants during the months of winter when fog grips the plains and reduces visibility to zero.
With normalcy prevailing all along the IB in Jammu sector since November 1 after about month long heavy mortar shelling and firing, the BSF has been utilizing the peace time to strengthen its positions on the borders especially by plugging the infiltration routes to ensure that all intrusion attempts by the militants are thwarted successfully.
“We are plugging the gaps especially around riverines, which haven’t been completely fenced. We have introduced three-tier security system along the riverines, running close to the International Boundary, by raising first-tier security along their banks and remaining two tiers behind. Though the militants, if they try to infiltrate, will be trapped at the first place, even if they succeed in crossing first naka, we will get them at the remaining two,” Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontiers, DK Upadhyaya told the Excelsior.
He said three-tier security systems along riverines and other unfenced gaps has been introduced to keep strict surveillance on the infiltration, who could try to take advantage of foggy weather conditions in the next few days when harsh winter season would set-in and visibility will be reduced drastically.
“The measures to counter the infiltration attempts during the winter have been put in place well in advance,” Upadhyaya said, adding well-prepared and fool-proof mechanism was in place, which included electronic surveillance systems required to beat the fog and track movement of militants from a reasonable distance to get them when they reach close to the fence or the borders.
Official sources said focus of the BSF had been to plug the gaps, which couldn’t be fenced due to running riverines, small nullahs etc. Some culverts have also been raised over the nullahs to cover them with manual patrolling while electronic gadgets have been installed in large portion of the borders, which have given very encouraging results.
Meanwhile, along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir including twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch, Army has adopted robust counter infiltration strategy which has an appropriate mix of technology and human resources to check infiltration effectively.
Innovative troop deployment, proactive use of surveillance, monitoring devices and the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System have enhanced the ability to detect and intercept terrorists attempting to infiltrate / exfiltrate.
This information was given by the Defence Minister in a written reply to Dr Bhola Singh and others in Lok Sabha today.
Sources said the winter management strategy has been put in place both along LoC and IB well in advance this year as Army and BSF didn’t want to take any chances in view of anticipation of infiltration attempts on both LoC and IB due to escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.
They added that the militants could also make more and more infiltration attempts this year in view of heavy losses suffered by them in September 29 surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in which 50 militants including top commanders of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), apart from Pakistan army personnel were killed.
Following surgical strikes, Pakistan army and Rangers have indulged in large number of ceasefire violations both along LoC and IB, which continued on LoC till last night when heavy shelling and firing took place in Pallanwalla, Rajouri and Poonch sectors. However, IB has been calm since November 1.
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