Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 20: The Intelligence Bureau (IB) has sounded an alert about the preparedness of 50 militants along the Line of Control (LoC) opposite twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, who were in full battle gear to infiltrate into the Indian side under the cover of firing by the Pakistani troops.
“The militants were battle hardened having got training in different camps of Pakistan during the past more than one year,” the alert said.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Army was already maintaining a very high alert all along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts as they had reports that Pakistan Army would try to push trained militants inside the Indian territory under the cover of heavy firing that had been raging on almost regularly since first week of August.
The alert came amidst reports that Pakistan has fully activated 42 training camps being run in its territory, which had been lying low for the past sometime. The militants, who were preparing to infiltrate into this side, had been trained in some of these camps and were now stationed in forward launching pads on the LoC opposite Poonch and Rajouri sectors.
Sources said majority of 50 militants were Pakistanis. Only few of them were Kashmiris. They had reportedly been camping in the areas surrounded by Pakistan Army on their side of LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts.
“These militants wanted to infiltrate at any cost,” the alert said.
It added that though there were about 150 militants awaiting across the LoC and International Border in Jammu sector including Poonch and Rajouri districts, falling on the LoC and Jammu sector on the IB, Pakistan Army and militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits wanted to push 50 of them, who were well trained and had been camping at certain vintage points.
“These militants would make all out attempts to infiltrate into this side under the cover of Pakistan firing, which has come down during past couple of days but has not stopped completely,” sources said, adding there were reports that Pakistan could continue the firing to give cover to the militants as and when they get an opportunity.
Sources admitted that they were anticipating spurt in infiltration attempts all along the LoC including Kashmir in the next two months before the snowfall engulfed the passes, which were used by the militants for intrusions.
Sources added that in view of heavy firing by the Pakistan Army during past over one and a half months, troops on this side were already maintaining a very high alert to counter the ceasefire violations and possible intrusion bids under the cover of firing.
The Army has installed sophisticated gadgets along the LoC to keep strict surveillance on movement of the militants.
“We have thwarted a series of infiltration attempts on the LoC. No militant has been allowed to intrude into this side during the firing. In future also, our troops were on high alert and won’t allow the militants to sneak-in despite efforts of Pakistan Army and militant commanders,” Army sources said, adding the militants have been making intrusion bids and might continue to do so “but we are determined to thwart all such bids”.
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