Officials suspect that the infiltrators have managed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities along the high-security IB fence with some high-tech foreign assistance. This is helping them dig tunnels to breach the multi-layered security. “We have to identify if they have been able to create some new tunnels with some high-tech foreign assistance… and it seems they (tunnels) are opening in some unmanned areas or inside some houses or buildings which are difficult to identify,” a senior officer posted in Jammu told the Economic Times.
Officials said that last year, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel deployed along the international border had detected many such tunnels. In the last three months, more than 15 terrorist incidents have been reported in Jammu region, in which 11 jawans, including two officers, 5 infiltrators and 9 pilgrims have been killed. 55 others have been injured in these terrorist attacks. An army officer said, “It seems that they want to remain engaged around the LoC and IB in Jammu. They want to keep Jammu busy from all sides, so that we (army) remain committed here and do not get time to think about any misadventure across the border.”
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Officials claimed that after infiltrating, the militants pass through vast tracts of land and mountains where not a single security personnel is deployed now. “These areas were peaceful for more than two decades and security forces were withdrawn from here to deal with the challenges on the eastern border in Kashmir and Ladakh,” one of the officials said.
According to officials, out of 70-80 foreign infiltrators active in Jammu and Kashmir, 55-60 are active in Jammu region. They are working in small groups. They said that most of the foreign infiltrators are currently in Kishtwar-Doda and Basantgarh areas of Jammu.
“There is no such thing as infiltration routes. It is about identifying and overcoming vulnerabilities at the border, which always involves an element of surprise for the security forces,” a senior police officer said.
Another senior officer in Jammu said the infiltrators have managed to get in touch with some of the “old networks” of people who helped militants in the 1990s and early 2000s. “The infiltrators have a first-mover advantage and have been able to spread out in small groups in these dangerous mountains in the last few months. So, more than operations, we have to focus on intelligence, which is sorely lacking, especially in Udhampur and Doda-Kishtwar areas,” an officer said.
Infiltration attempts were made in Kashmir earlier this year from the traditional areas of Kupwara and Baramulla. Officials said attempts could also be made from Bandipora in north Kashmir. However, so far there has been no movement of infiltrators from north to south Kashmir and that is why Srinagar city is relatively calm. A police officer said, “We have received information that some foreign terrorists may infiltrate from Rajouri Poonch range into Shopian and Kulgam areas of south Kashmir.”