Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Aug 8: A joint team of Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Border Security Force (BSF) today unearthed total length of about 540 meters of tunnel dug into Indian side by Pakistan from the Zero Line and reportedly found its exit point about half a kilometer short of Chechwal in Samba sector. The tunnel was also expected about 200 meters to 300 meters in Pakistan territory, most likely originating from near Lumberiyal post of the Rangers.
However, the GSI team has requisitioned more sophisticated instruments to find out through the scientific way the construction of tunnel by the Pakistan authorities in a way that the BSF authorities deployed on the border and forward posts couldn’t detect it though the entire activity took place about 25 feet deep inside the earth.
Official sources told the Excelsior that a high level GSI team from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, which had started its task yesterday morning to detect total length and exit of the tunnel on Indian side at forward village of Chechwal in Samba sector, achieved a major breakthrough around 4 pm by detecting another major part of 140 meters tunnel dug on Indian side taking total length to 540 meters and also reportedly came across what could be its exit route.
Though the GSI as well as BSF officials were silent on completion of the task so far as they had cordoned off the area leading to the tunnel, sources said the GSI team detected end point of the tunnel this afternoon, which was about half kilometers short of village Chechwal but the team has decided to go ahead with the work to see whether some more tunnel was there or it had another exit route.
“Total length of the tunnel has roughly been measured about 540 meters into the Indian side from Zero Line so far. The tunnel had been constructed about 25 deep into the earth and had been given outlet at the exit point detected so far”, sources said, adding the tunnel had almost been constructed straight.
However, the exit point indicated that the Pakistani authorities, responsible for construction of the tunnel, wanted to dig it further into two routes, one leading towards village Chechwal and another straight reportedly towards the National Highway.
While yesterday, the GSI teams had recovered three water bottles from inside the tunnel, today they reportedly found some batteries, which had been used for lighting the tunnel during construction. The water bottles recovered yesterday were half filled but their labels had been removed by the construction workers as they might have been carrying name of Pakistani company, sources said.
They added that the Pakistani authorities appeared to be trying to divert the tunnel into two routes, one leading towards the National Highway and another towards village Chechwal. The construction work appeared to have been abandoned during past some time.
Sources said the GSI and BSF authorities have decided not to take any chance and go ahead with its work in a scientific manner to find out how the tunnel was constructed, the period of its construction and other related issues. For the purpose, the GSI has sought sophisticated machinery, which would be reaching here shortly.
A farmer had detected the tunnel on the evening of July 27 while working in his fields at Chechwal when he saw the land sunk at three straight points due to Monsoon rains. He had informed the BSF, which swung into action and started digging earth the find out the tunnel, which had been dug 25 feet deep into the earth and fitted with hydro-electric pipes for supply of oxygen and fresh air. The tunnel had a diameter of 3’x3′ inside, which was sufficient space for infiltration of militants.
A number of senior BSF officers including Director General of the Force, who visited the spot, had said that tunnel was aimed at facilitating infiltration of the militants from Pakistan and smuggling of narcotics. India had lodged a very strong protest with Pakistan in writing by giving pictorial evidence of the tunnel constructed from Pakistan side into the Indian territory.
Sources said the exit of the tunnel from 25 feet deep into the earth had an outer from where the militants or smugglers could easily come out.
“The tunnel appeared to have been constructed by professional persons, with strong expertise in underground construction of the tunnel, which was evident from the fact that it couldn’t be detected anywhere inside 540 meters into Indian territory from the Zero Line until the land started caving-in due to Monsoon rains in the village. The tunnel had been fitted with oxygen and fresh air pipes.
Sources said construction of the tunnel was aimed at infiltration of the militants as the Pakistan Army and the Rangers were finding it difficult due to fencing on the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB), installation of sophisticated gadgetry and strict surveillance.
They added that BSF jawans were also looking for some more tunnels on the IB but so far no other tunnel has been detected.
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