As the plain areas across Jammu frontier are reeling under bitter cold wave conditions and thick blanket of fog is engulfing the International Border, the Border Security Force (BSF) has activated its border guarding winter strategy to prevent fresh infiltration bids from across the border with Pakistan.
To ensure safety of its jawans and prevent any 'targeted' sniper fire from across the Pakistani side, the BSF has also covered more than 800 sentry posts (naka points) along the 210 km-long border with 'camouflaged nets' across Jammu frontier. Besides fog, BSF jawans have to deal with wild growth of elephantine grass along the border as it hampers clear vigil. According to official sources, "The BSF jawans have been briefed to carry out round-the-clock patrolling in their areas of operation and keep naka points activated. They have been directed to make maximum use of 'vigil towers' for long-range screening of border area for any suspected movement during the day.
Intelligence reports have warned of presence of trained group of militants waiting for their turn to infiltrate as all other routes of infiltration along the line of control in frontier Poonch and Rajori districts would be blocked after heavy snowfall in the area. Taking advantage of the wild growth of grass and thick fog, the Pakistani Rangers have recently attempted to push fresh batches of infiltrators from Kathua and RS Pura sectors across Jammu frontier and also violated ceasefire agreement to divert the attention of BSF jawans. The BSF managed to foil these infiltration bids and also silenced the Pakistani guns by giving effective response using similar calibre of weapons.
Following these fresh infiltration bids, the BSF has intensified border patrolling in the area and dominating gaps. The jawans are also relying on state-of-the-art gadgets to maintain round-the-clock surveillance of the vulnerable patches and rivulets along the border. The BSF has recently installed 'laser walls' in some areas along the vulnerable routes of infiltration and using fog lights to keep a tight vigil on the suspected movement of infiltrators near the International Border.