Fifth cross-border passage uncovered in 5 years BSF DIG says infiltration bid foiled

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 14

The Border Security Force (BSF) on Monday detected a cross-border tunnel on the International Border (IB) in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district, foiling a possible infiltration bid. This is the second tunnel detected in the area in three months, and the fifth in the region since 2012.The tunnel, which has a diameter of 2.5 feet into 2.5 feet, has been detected 20 metres inside the International Border but beyond the fence.The BSF said that it was a big achievement as the tunnel would have given an easy passage to terrorists to infiltrate into the Indian side if it would have crossed the fence.On November 29, 2016, the BSF had detected a cross-border tunnel in the same area through which three militants had infiltrated into the Indian side but were eliminated the same day.Addressing a press conference here this afternoon, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the BSF DK Pareek said that in view of the heightened security scenario on the IB following the last year’s volatile situation, the BSF continuously sanitised the area.“During an anti-tunnel patrolling in the area, alert BSF troops observed a suspicious place. After digging the area, a tunnel was detected. The length of the tunnel on our side is around 20 metres and it seems that it was still under construction,” the DIG said.He said there was wild growth on the other side and Pakistan had also dug a ditch nearby a few years ago. “Militants are taking the benefit of that ditch as well as the wild growth. The construction of the tunnel is not possible without the help of the Pakistan Rangers as a Pakistani post and a tower are barely 300 metres from the tunnel and Pakistani troops can have a clear view of the area,” he added.Pareek said that in view of the security scenario in the past few months on the International Border in the Jammu region, the BSF had taken various innovative measures to ensure foolproof security after assessing various threats from the Pakistan sideThe DIG said that with the detection of the tunnel, the BSF had foiled a possible infiltration bid by terrorists.“There are regular inputs about the presence of terrorists in Pakistani border villages who are desperate to infiltrate into the Indian territory. BSF troops are extremely vigilant and prepared to foil any such emerging threats and the nefarious design of Pakistan,” he added.

Tunnels discovered in Jammu region

• February 13, 2017: A cross-border tunnel with a diameter of 2.5 ft into 2.5 ft 20 m uncovered in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district
• November 29, 2016: A tunnel detected in the same Ramgarh area through which three militants infiltrated. They were eliminated the same day
• March 1, 2016: A 30-m trans-border tunnel found in the RS Pura sector of Jammu district. It had a diameter of nearly 3 ft
• August 23, 2014: A trans-border tunnel uncovered in the Pallanwala sector of Jammu district. It caved in due to rains after running 50 m inside the Indian territory
• July 27, 2012: A 540-m trans-border tunnel discovered near the Chalyari border outpost in Samba district

Arms recovered from Mendhar

Our Correspondent

Poonch, February 14

In a search operation, the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) recovered a major cache of arms and ammunition from a dense forest near Mendhar here this evening.Police sources disclosed that based on a tip-off from reliable sources, a team of the Army’s Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operations Group of the Mendhar police launched a joint search operation in the dense forest near Mendhar and recovered a major cache of arms and ammunition.A huge quantity of arms and ammunition was recovered from a hideout which included a PIKA machine gun with 90-belted rounds, AK 74 rifle, two UBGLs, 22 UBGL grenades, two Chinese grenades, ICOM radio set with antennae and approximately 500 AK 47 rounds.