Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 1: Security agencies were suspecting a surge in infiltration attempts on the Line of Control (LoC) in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri following reports that Pakistan Army has re-activated Border Action Teams (BATs) to help militants infiltrate into the Indian territory.
The fog that would start setting in along the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts was another reason being anticipated by security agencies behind rise in the intrusion bids as the militants have always tried to take advantage of adverse weather conditions to infiltrate into this side of the State.
Official sources said there had been reports with the Intelligence agencies that Pakistan Army’s Special Force (SF) and BAT have been re-activated by Pakistan Army and ISI on the LoC in an attempt to push trained militants into Jammu and Kashmir through the border districts of Rajouri and Poonch. The Special Force and BAT had started lying low after August 5 incident in which five Indian Army soldiers were killed in Sarla battalion area at Chakan-Da-Bagh in Poonch district followed by escalated tensions along the LoC for a couple of months.
However, sources said, both Pakistan’s Special Force and BAT have again become active across the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts and started mobilizing the militants to push them into this side. Worthwhile to mention here that escalated tensions on the LoC have come down and now ceasefire violations from Pakistan side were taking place occasionally.
“Instead of resorting to ceasefire violations, Pakistan Army has now activated its Special Force and BAT to mobilize the militants and try to push them into the Indian side,’’ sources said, adding that Army was maintaining high alert on the LoC anticipating spurt in infiltration attempts by the militants from Pakistan side.
Army was fully prepared to meet with any challenge and thwart intrusion bids by the militants.
According to sources, there had been reports with the security agencies that the militants could also try to take advantage of foggy weather conditions in the months of December and January and try to sneak into this side. However, the troops have been equipped with anti-fog devices on the LoC to observe movement of the militants even during dense fog and eliminate or capture them.
A senior Army officer had recently stated that a large number of militants were waiting across the LoC to sneak into this side. The militants had been camping at the launching pads across the LoC with full support of Pakistan Army.
The weather during the harsh winter months of December and January remained foggy along the LoC especially in Poonch district of Jammu region. The militants had last year also tried to exploit the adverse weather conditions for infiltration but alertness displayed by the troops coupled with installation of sophisticated gadgetry has thwarted their plans.
“This year also, the militants would try infiltration during fog in winter but they wouldn’t succeed,’’ sources said.
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