The Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration bid by a group of five heavily-armed terrorists who were being provided fire cover by Pakistan Rangers on the International Border (IB) in the Samba sector late on September 26 night.

The BSF exchanged fire with the Rangers for nearly 30 minutes after the latter provided cover fire to the terrorists who fled back to Pakistan in the face of the BSF’s retaliation.

According to officials, the alert troops of the BSF noticed the movement of the group of five terrorists on the Pakistan side of the IB in the Samba sector who were attempting to infiltrate into this side.

“During night hours, taking advantage of the darkness, the terrorist group of heavily armed terrorists tried to enter the Indian territory, but were engaged by alert BSF troops, where they had reached taking advantage of thick vegetation. The BSF troops challenged them to stop at which they started firing on the BSF party with Pakistan Ranger posts also giving fire support to theterrorists,” a BSF spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the alert troops fired at the infiltrating elements. However, they managed to escape to the Pakistan territory. With this, the BSF foiled another possible infiltration bid of armed terrorists.

The incident took place in Mangu Chak Border Outpost (BOP) area of Ghagwal around 11.45 pm. This is the second attempt of infiltration through the Samba sector by the terrorist group after September 14 and 15.

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the BSF launched a search operation to sanitise the area.

There has been a sudden rise in the incidents of airdropping of weapons by drones and smuggling of narcotics along the IB and the Line of Control (LoC) amid frequent ceasefire violations in J&K over the past few weeks.

On June 20, the BSF had shot down an arms-laden Pakistan drone in Rathua village of the Hiranagar sector in Kathua district while it detected a trans-border tunnel in the Samba sector on August 28.

Courtesy : Daily Excelsior:  27th September, 2020