Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 20: Even as Pakistan Rangers last night fired 14 mortar shells targeting forward Indian villages and posts in Hiranagar sector, security agencies have confirmed presence of nearly a dozen militants on Pakistan side of the International Border (IB), who were awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side to repeat Samba and Kathua like fidayeen attacks.
Top official sources told the Excelsior that it was in view of “highly alarming reports’’ about all out attempts by the militants to infiltrate into this side that the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided to deploy more Central Police Forces (CPFs) on the IB behind the BSF to ensure that even if the militants managed to breach the fencing like they did last month to carry out twin attacks at Rajbagh police station in Kathua district and Mehsar Army camp in Samba district.
According to sources, the Rangers last night fired 14 mortar shells in forward villages of Chan Lal Din, Pansar and Chor Gali targeting forward villages and BSF posts with an apparent attempt to divert attention of the security forces and push the militants into the Indian side. However, the alert BSF jawans didn’t allow the militants to sneak.
“Once again it was the Hiranagar sector, which was being targeted by the Rangers as previous infiltration by four militants was also believed to have taken place from this particular sector though there was no official confirmation of this,’’ sources said.
The mortar shells exploded harmlessly.
Sources said there had been reports that encouraged by open support of Pakistan army and Jamat-ul-Dawa chief Hafiz Sayeed, over a dozen militants in full combat dresses have been camping close to the IB in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district with a view to infiltrate into this side. Last night’s shelling and firing by the Rangers was clearly aimed at infiltration by the militants, they added.
Only few days back, GOC 16 Corps Lt Gen KH Singh had said that Pakistan was trying to push militants to repeat Samba and Kathua like terror attacks in Army uniforms but added that security forces were well prepared to thwart such plans.
Meanwhile, sources said, the MHA has decided to deploy more Central Police Forces (CPFs) along the International Border from Kathua to Akhnoor behind the BSF. This will help check any infiltration by the militants breaching fencing or crossing through some uncovered portions of Nullahs especially when they were flooded during the rains.
Police authorities too have strengthened their positions in all border areas of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts to check movement of the militants.
The people living in the border areas were also panic stricken as they feared that the fresh wave of mortar shelling and firing by the Rangers could spell trouble for them, which they had witnessed last year and in January this year when they had to leave their homes and take shelter in the camps to survive.
“We fear that the Rangers could resort to shelling and firing once again just they had done last year to create trouble on the borders,’’ they said.
Adding to woes of the border people was the crop season.
“Already, the adverse weather conditions this year have destroyed most of the crops. However, the surviving crops too could be in danger if there was no let up in shelling and firing by the Pakistani Rangers,’’ the people said.
There had been specific inputs about presence of nearly dozen militants in full combat dresses equipped with arms, ammunition and explosives trying to infiltrate into this side of the border. The militants were affiliated with Hafiz Sayeed backed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit and their targets were Army and police installations, sources said.
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