BSF on alert after ‘suspicious movement’
JAMMU: A high alert has been sounded by the Border Security Force (BSF) all along the 198km long international border in Jammu region on Monday after a movement by a group of three to four suspected terrorists was observed in a seasonal rivulet in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district late on Sunday night.
“On the intervening night of May 13 and 14 around 12.15am, the 173rd battalion of the BSF noticed a suspicious movement of three to four suspected terrorists, who were in combat fatigues and with backpacks, in Tarnah Nullah near Bobiya and Londi border outposts of the BSF,” said an intelligence official.
“It seems there was an infiltration attempt. The troops and local police have been put on high alert and special nakas established,” he added.
Army troops along with sniffer dogs have also been pressed into service in Tarnah Nullah to locate suspected intruders. Tarnah Nullah, a seasonal rivulet, has been the preferred route of infiltration for Pakistani ultras.
BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awatar, who rushed to Hiranagar sector to supervise the search operations and assess
› It seems there was an infiltration attempt. The troops and local police have been put on high alert and special nakas established AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICIAL
the situation, said: “Late last night, a BSF man on duty point, saw a suspicious movement and immediately alerted all the neighbouring border outposts. Army and police were also informed about the same.” Thereafter, forces were deployed and searches were launched in the area but so far there is no clue, he added.
The IG said there was a marriage function going on in the area when a BSF man observed the suspected movement. He, however, said there was no breach of border fence in the area.
“I also don’t have any inputs with me about footprints found in the rivulet,” he said. But BSF has sounded a high alert and every unit has been asked to maintain strict vigil on the IB, he added.
All the vital installations, including defence formations all along the Jammu-Pathankot highway, have also been put on high alert.