Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 22: The BSF early today foiled seventh major infiltration attempt post September 29 surgical strikes on the International Border (IB) in Suchetgarh sector, killing a terror guide and forcing two others to retreat. Several Pakistan made items were found in possession of the terror guide, which has once again exposed the hand of the neighbour behind infiltration of militants.
The BSF would lodge strong protest with Pakistan over role of the Rangers in facilitating infiltration attempt by the militants as CCTV footage available with it showed that two militants had fled back to Pakistan and took shelter in a post of the Rangers after terror guide was killed on the border in wee hours of this morning.
Inspector General of BSF, Jammu Frontiers, DK Upadhyaya told reporters at Octroi Post in RS Pura sector after visiting the site of infiltration attempt, that the alert BSF troops observed movement of an infiltrator in Suchetgarh sector of RS Pura tehsil at 4.30 am today when he was trying to enter into the Indian territory taking advantage of dead ground, thick gross, dark hours and fog.
The BSF challenged the infiltrator and asked him to surrender but he rushed towards one of the culverts under the fence. As the intruder had covered his face and body with a shawl, the Sentry got suspicious and opened firing, killing him.
Upadhyaya, who was accompanied by DIGs of BSF, BS Kasana and Dharmendra Pareek and Commandant Bhagwant Singh, said the CCTV footage immediately revealed that two militants had hidden themselves near a bundh and as soon as the BSF gunned down the terror guide, they fled back towards Pakistan side and took shelter in a forward post of the Rangers.
“The slain infiltrator was a terror guide, who was moving ahead of the two militants. He had to give green signal to the militants for infiltration if the route was clear. However, the militants fled back and took shelter in a post manned by the Rangers after the terror guide was gunned down by the BSF,” the IG BSF said, adding that a major infiltration attempt has been foiled with the killing of intruder and escape by the two militants back to Pakistan.
Upadhyaya said this was seventh infiltration attempt that has been foiled by the BSF on the International Border since September 29 surgical strikes by the Indian Army deep inside Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in which 50 militants and Pakistan army personnel were killed.
A total of 15 infiltration attempts have been foiled this year along the IB, he added.
The BSF Jammu chief said BSF has recovered Pakistani currency notes, Pakistan made eatables, fencing cutters, knife, Urdu newspapers, visiting cards of Sialkot and a booklet written in Chinese language along with a China leaflet from the possession of slain militants.
“All this material was enough to establish the involvement of Pakistan behind the infiltration attempt and we will lodge very strong protest with the Rangers on their open support to the militants,” the IG BSF said.
Sources said the video footage with the BSF has established involvement of Rangers as two militants, who escaped back to Pakistan after their guide was killed, had taken shelter in a post of the Rangers.
Upadhyaya addressed the troops in Suchetgarh sector and lauded their courage in thwarting the infiltration attempt as the militants were intruding to this side with a mission. He gave special acknowledgement to the Sentry, who performed the action and gunned down the infiltrator.
The IG BSF expressed that national security is their paramount concern and nobody can be permitted to obviate with it.
Meanwhile, body of the infiltrator was today recovered from the spot but his identity couldn’t be established as he was not carrying any identity card with him.
The BSF was making efforts to handover the dead body to the Rangers if they accept it.