Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 3: Tension has again flared up on the International Border (IB) at Chechwal in Samba sector after Pakistan not allowing the Border Security Force (BSF) to carry out further work on the tunnel ahead of border fencing fearing that it would be exposed as security forces had detected that tunnel was leading toward Pakistan.
Official sources confirmed that work on further digging of the tunnel by the BSF authorities between border fencing and zero line has been stopped in anticipation of firing by the Pakistani Rangers.
The BSF had managed to dig earth ahead of fencing and was nearing Zero Line when the Rangers objected to the work and wanted it to be stopped. The Rangers told the BSF to stop work or, otherwise, they would open firing.
Sources said the Rangers were afraid that the BSF would expose their game plan by digging right up to the Zero Line, which would establish that the tunnel was originating from Pakistan.
“Anticipating international embarrassment after the exposure of their plan of digging underground tunnel into the Indian territory, the Rangers were not left with no option as the BSF was close to reach to the Zero Line on the IB to establish that the tunnel had been dug from Pakistan side’’, they added.
The Rangers objected to the digging work and got it stopped, sources said but added that the BSF was determined to complete digging up to Zero Line to expose Pakistan for constructing tunnel inside the Indian territory.
According to sources, while the tunnel was 25 feet under the earth inside the border fencing at village Chechwal, it was about 40 feet underground ahead of the fencing. The Pakistan authorities might have dug the tunnel more underground between Zero Line to border fencing to ensure that the work was not detected by the BSF jawans manning the border area.
Sources said the tunnel would have its origin about 200 feet inside Pakistan. It might have been dug from near a post of the Rangers. They added that the Rangers were now afraid of getting exposed and face embarrassment at the international level as it was established that the tunnel had been constructed by Pakistani authorities into the Indian territory for facilitating infiltration of militants and smuggle narcotics.
The BSF had started digging ahead of border fencing to find out alignment of the tunnel and its origin after teams of Geological Survey of India (GSI) and BSF authorities had detected 540 meters underground tunnel inside the Indian territory at forward village of Chechwal in Samba sector.
A farmer had detected the tunnel on July 27 while working in his fields as the land had caved in at three straight points leading towards Pakistan. The BSF and GSI teams later detected that the tunnel had been dug 540 meters inside the Indian territory leading to village Chechwal. The exit point of the tunnel was also detected.
Few days back, the BSF had started digging work ahead of border fencing to find out further alignment of the tunnel.
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