JAMMU, Dec 24: After the International Border in Jammu region, a high alert has been sounded in neighbouring border belt of Punjab especially in Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts following inputs that the terrorists from Pakistan could take that route to infiltrate into India taking advantage of thick fog which has engulfed the region presently and is expected to continue for at least a month.“Additional deployment has been made along the International Border in Punjab sector especially Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts bordering Kathua district in the Jammu region in view of inputs that following enhanced security arrangements in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts, the terrorists could take Punjab route for infiltration,” officials told the Excelsior.
Punjab Police has deployed Commandos in forward areas of Pathankot. A man named Billu Gujjar has been detained for questioning. Punjab Police is carrying out searches in differerent areas.
About a couple of years back, the terrorists had infiltrated through the International Border in Pathankot and then used the rural belt on Kathua-Pathankot border to reach the mountains for their onward journey to Kathua and ahead. Fog is dense in Punjab than Kathua, the officials said, adding in addition to the BSF, Punjab Police has also been sounded and asked to remain on high alert especially in the border areas of Pathankot and Gurdaspur.
There have been specific inputs of presence of the terrorists on Pakistan side of the International Border waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate into this side especially during the winters taking cover of thick fog. However, the BSF has been maintaining high alert to thwart the intrusion bids.
Behind the BSF, the Border Police, Special Operations Group (SOG) and Village Defence Guards (VDGs) have been maintaining high degree of surveillance especially during the nights when chances of infiltration are more.
Some parts of fencing on the International Border between Jammu and Kathua districts and parts of neighbouring Punjab were washed away during heavy rains and floods in the Monsoon especially in the month of August this year. The border posts were also damaged. Fencing and border posts have been reconstructed and repaired, the sources said.
“Senior BSF officers of Jammu and Punjab Frontiers have been in regular touch with each other to keep coordination,” the officials said. Senior BSF officers of the Western Command under whose jurisdiction the border belt of Punjab and Jammu falls have also been regularly visiting the border areas to ensure zero infiltration from the borders.
There have been reports that a group of three to four terrorists was trying to infiltrate into the Indian territory from International Border between Kathua and Punjab. The terrorists have reportedly come very close to Pakistan side of the border for intrusion. The winter management strategy has also been put in place along the IB.
Sophisticated gadgetry has been in place along the borders to detect any kind of intrusion bids even in the dense fog, the sources said.
In March this year, one major infiltration was reported from Hiranagar sector in Kathua district in which two Pakistani terrorists were killed and four police personnel were martyred. Other terrorists had managed to escape towards the forest area of Billawar in Kathua district.
There have been increased drone activities on the IB in Punjab with smuggling of narcotics and arms. A number of such attempts have been foiled by the BSF and Punjab Police.
