Ahead of PM’s visit, security forces search for tunnels at IB

Samba/Jammu, February 17

The Border Security Force (BSF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted a joint search on Saturday for any possible cross-border tunnel along the International Border in Samba district, amid heightened security in the Union territory ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit next week, officials said.

Cops for sharing real-time intelligence

• A Subsidiary Multi-Agency Centre (SMAC) meeting was held in the Rajouri with officials to discuss sharing of real-time intelligence, enhance coordination and synergy
• Senior officials of the Army, CRPF, BSF, SB, IB, CID and MI attended the meeting, reviewed the security situation and highlighted the need for working in synergy

In the past decades, about a dozen cross-border tunnels which were used to push terrorists, weapons and narcotics from across the border were uncovered by the security forces along the International Border with Pakistan in Samba, Kathua and Jammu districts.

The police had recently announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh to anyone who helps in locating such tunnels used by “anti-national elements”.

Modi is visiting Jammu on February 20 to inaugurate and lay the foundation of 209 projects worth Rs 3,161 crore. He will also address a public meeting at the Maulana Azad Stadium in the heart of Jammu.

As part of the heightened security arrangements in view of Modi’s visit, the officials said, the BSF and the police conducted a joint two-hour-long anti-tunnelling operation in the Ramgarh sector of Samba district.

The operation started around 9.45 am and search teams did not find anything suspicious on the ground, they said.

The officials said BSF troops guarding the IB and police personnel manning the border posts have been put on maximum alert, especially after the recent ceasefire violation by Pakistan Rangers, and have been asked to maintain a tight vigil on any suspicious movement from across the border.