In a first, Pak militants infiltrated border with rocket launchers
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria
Tribune News Service
Jammu, December 4
The four Pakistani militants who carried out an audacious attack in Kathar village of Arnia in Jammu district on November 27 were carrying three rocket launchers and even fired two rocket launcher rounds at the Army.
“While we use 84 mm Carl Gustav recoilless rifle (rocket launcher), they (militants) had brought three light weight disposable rocket launchers and fired two rounds at our troops and BMP ---Russian made amphibious infantry vehicle,” said a senior Army officer.
Besides the four militants, five civilians and three soldiers were killed in the attack.
It is for the first time that militants managed to sneak in from the international border with rocket launchers. “I cannot recall even a single instance of Pak ultras infiltrating via international border with rocket launchers. It showed that these ultras had a very sinister plan,” the officer said.
Rocket launchers can fire high explosive, anti-tank, tracer and air-burst ammunition with an effective range of 2 to 2.5 km.
On a suicidal mission, the militants had brought sufficient arms and ammunition, besides chocolates and dry fruits, to inflict optimum damage, he added.
The seizure, which included four AK-47 rifles, 28 AK magazines, three powerful IEDs, hand grenades, pistols, three rocket launchers, ample rocket launcher ammunition and three radio sets, conveys mala fide intentions of militants, the officer said.
A Defence source said: “Had these ultras not been eliminated, they could have easily hijacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Udhampur on November 28.”
“There have been instances in the past when militants from across the border hijacked vehicles on gun point and then staged attacks on the Army, paramilitary and police formations. September 26 attack last year and March 28 attack this year in Samba and Kathua districts are glaring examples,” the source said.
A senior Intelligence official, meanwhile, said the four militants possibly infiltrated on the night of November 26 and 27 before emerging at a culvert between Pindi and Kathar villages.
“There is Domala Nullah (rivulet) on our side and one of its banks touches the Pak territory between Pittal and Tent Guard posts of the BSF. It appears that they (militants) probably entered from this stretch,” he said.
Domala Nullah after meandering along Kaku-de-Kothey, Kotla and Trewa villages merges into Aik Nullah that flows into Pakistan.
“After entering via this route, terrorists changed into combat fatigues beneath a culvert between Pindi and Kathar villages, around 1.5 km inside the Indian territory. Just 200 feet away was a naka (checkpost) of 157 Territorial Army that they attacked,” he said.
