Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 7: The Border Security Force (BSF) today thwarted a major infiltration attempt along the International Border (IB) in Ramgarh sector of Samba district by neutralizing the group of militants that was trying to enter into the Indian territory in early hours of this morning.
Two groups of nine militants were reportedly moving on Pakistan side across Samba sector for the past few days awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side. After getting the report of the movement of militants, the BSF has been maintaining high alert along the IB.
Today evening, the BSF and Rangers established a casual contact in Ramgarh sector in which the former lodged a strong protest with Pakistan’s security personnel over the firing to facilitate infiltration attempt.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the BSF jawans through the Night Vision Devices (NVDs) observed movement of militants trying to infiltrate into this side from Ballarh Post of Ramgarh sector at 5.05 am. The security personnel immediately resorted to firing to neutralize the militants.
Pakistani Rangers also started firing from their posts with a view to give cover to the sneaking ultras in violation of ceasefire agreement of India and Pakistan.
The firing continued till 5.35 am, sources said, adding that one of the infiltrators had managed to reach very close to the fencing but the alertness displayed by the BSF personnel didn’t allow the militant to intrude into this side.
After keeping a close surveillance on the IB, the BSF jawans carried out a massive search operation along the International Border in entire Samba sector for about three hours from 9 am to 12 noon. However, no marks of infiltrators could be detected along the LoC, which indicated that the militants hadn’t been able to enter into this side.
“No trace or foot marks of infiltrators were detected along the IB. The militants hadn’t managed to enter into this side. They were reported to have retreated to Pakistan finding the alert security personnel manning the border,” sources said.
Possibility of one of the infiltrators having been killed in the gun battle has also not been ruled out.
“There was thick grass in the area along the IB. The possibility of one of the intruder, who had reached close to the fencing having been killed in the firing can’t be ruled out. The body could be lying in the bushes, which were very thick and high in the area,” sources said.
In the evening, BSF and Rangers established a casual contact at Ballarh Post of Ramgarh sector. BSF 59 battalion Company Commander Santosh Sahu and Rangers’ 24 PNR Regiment’s Imtiyaz Ali met for few minutes in which the BSF lodged a protest with the Rangers for resorting to firing to facilitate the infiltration bid by the militants.
As usual, the Rangers denied having opened firing to give cover to the militants. They were reported to have said that the militants might have opened firing on the BSF jawans.
Few days back, the BSF and Rangers had held a flag meet on cutting of grown up grass along the IB in Samba sector. The BSF wanted to cut the grass to have a full view of the area along the IB to detect movement of the infiltrators.
Late last month, the BSF had arrested a Pakistani national in Samba sector, who had sneaked into this side along with an electric tester. Security agencies believed that the tester had to be used to check electric current in the border fencing to facilitate infiltration attempts.
The intruder was later sent to the Joint Interrogation Centre (JIC) for sustained questioning to ascertain his motive of infiltration along with the electric tester.
There had been reports about the movement of two groups of nine militants camping on Pakistan side opposite Samba sector on the International Border awaiting an opportunity to enter into this side. The movement of nine militants on Pakistan side has repeatedly been observed from this side after which the BSF has been maintaining a very high alert all along the IB as the militants could try to infiltrate from any area especially during the night.
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