Suspected movement along International Border, high alert sounded in Jammu

The Border Security Force (BSF) sounded a high alert along the entire 198-km long international border with Pakistan in Jammu region on Monday after a trooper noticed a group of three to four suspected terrorists in a rivulet in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district late Sunday night.

“On the intervening night of May 13 and 14 around 0015 (12.15 am) 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 out posts of the BSF,” said an intelligence official.

“It seems there was an infiltration attempt. The troops and local police have been put on a high alert and special nakas (check posts) were 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 always remained a preferred route of infiltration for the Pakistani ultras.

BSF Jammu frontier inspector general Ram Awatar, who rushed to Hiranagar sector to supervise the search operations and assess the situation, said, “Late last night a BSF man on duty point saw a suspicious movement and he immediately alerted all the neighbouring border outposts. Army and police were also informed about it.”

Thereafter, security forces were deployed and searches were launched in the area but so far there has been no clue about the suspected intruders, he added.

The IG said that there was a wedding in the area when the BSF man observed the suspected movement.

He, however, said that there was no breach of border fence in the area.

“I also don’t have any inputs with me about footprints found in the nullah,” he said.

But BSF has sounded a high alert and every unit has been asked to maintain strict vigil on the international border, he added.

All vital installations including defence formations along the Jammu-Pathankot highway have also been put on high alert.

On March 30, the BSF DG, KK Sharma had said that the he had been regularly getting information about training camps and launching pads across the international border.