Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 27: Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General, Jammu Frontiers, Rajeev Krishna today said about 50 to 60 militants were waiting to infiltrate at the launching pads across the India, Pakistan International Border (IB) in Jammu sector but security forces were fully geared to thwart their plans.
“At present, five launching pads are active across the International Border in Jammu and approximately 50 to 60 militants are waiting to sneak into the Indian territory,” Mr Krishna told a press conference at BSF headquarters here.
The IG said: “though number of the militants at the launching pads keep varying but still around 50 to 60 militants were active there and eagerly awaiting an opportunity to infiltrate into this side taking advantage of dense fog, which has engulfed the plain areas during past few days and would continue for at least one more month.”
Asserting that there were more infiltration attempts in 2012 as compared to 2011, Mr Krishna observed that the BSF jawans were maintaining very high vigil along the International Border. “The BSF has planned different strategies to curb infiltration in view of fog.”
He added that the winter management of the BSF especially the to tackle the foggy weather conditions was fully in place and security forces were determined to ensure that not even a single militant managed to intrude into this side.
“Definitely, the militants would try to take advantage of adverse weather conditions on the borders and try to sneak into this side. This aspect is in our mind and accordingly we have placed our troops on very high alert’’, Mr Krishna said.
To a question, the IG BSF said some anti-fog devices, which had developed snag, have been repaired. “We have also taken some anti-fog devices from Army and other installations of the BSF to thwart the infiltration attempts’’, he added.
Mr Krishna said 108 pickets and 800 nakas of the BSF along the International Border were maintaining a very high alert on the borders.
The BSF top officer said as per records in the recent past infiltration bids have increased in the winter along the International Border than summer due to fog but strict vigil is being maintained and surveillance is being kept on every movement along the fence.
“During winter, the task to keep vigil on the border becomes harder due to fog and cold but jawans and officers are being sensitised,” the IG BSF said.
On tunnel detected in a forward village Chechwal of Samba district along the border in July this year which had been dug by Pakistan authorities to push infiltrators and narcotics, Mr Krishna said: “before the episode of tunnel, Pakistan had adopted different strategy but in post tunnel session, they started targeting civilians and BSF men with sniper shots to develop mental pressure.”
He said a committee has also been constituted to study the water contents, quality of soil at all the vulnerable places along the IB adding, “Geological Survey of India has also taken into account besides other agencies to look into the matter at nearly 17 vulnerable points.
“ Vigil has been strengthened at the porous locations along the Indo-Pak International Border’’, he added.
Mr Krishna added that 33 ceasefire violations were reported from Pakistan side on the IB this year, which were more than last year.
On the Line of Control (LoC), he added that there could be 200 to 225 militants waiting for infiltration.
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