Two months after the daring fidayeen strike on Pathankot airbase, Border Security Force (BSF) jawans on Thursday detected a 30-metre long cross border tunnel near Allah Mai De Kothi Border outpost along the International Border in RS Pura Sector of Jammu frontier.
The major security breach has rattled the authorities as it went unnoticed for a long time. The tunnel from the Pakistani side runs deep inside the Indian territory, approximately 50 metres ahead of the barbed wire fencing. It was apparently covered with wooden strips under the thick vegetation. According to preliminary investigations carried out by senior BSF officers, the tunnel was 10-feet deep and approximately 30-metre long.
It was well constructed with the expert help and latest technology was used to ensure smooth movement of infiltrators in a small group.
According to Intelligence agencies, some of the terrorist training camps were imparting training to fresh recruits in Ikramabad area in the vicinity of ‘Afzal’ post towards the Pakistani side.
The tunnel is believed to have been made to push trained militants inside the Indian territory to carry out fidayeen attacks in and around Jammu.
Inspector General of BSF, Jammu frontier, Rakesh Sharma told reporters on the International Border that the tunnel was detected by the BSF jawans engaged in the task of clearing the thick vegetation to ensure better visibility in the area around 10 am.
The area was selected purposefully to facilitate infiltration of armed terrorists as it fell close to the Nikki Tawi, a rivulet. The area is also dotted with thick growth of elephantine grass and hampers clear line of sight. The tunnel was detected after one of tractors got stuck in a deep pit. Sensing something fishy, BSF jawans there raised an alarm following which senior BSF officers reached the spot and detected the 2.5 feet wide tunnel 50 metre ahead of the barbed wire fencing.
Senior BSF officers of Jammu frontier and other central agencies also visited the spot to assess the situation before addressing the media.
Initially, when BSF officers said their Pak counterparts to come for a flag meeting they resisted but under pressure from the Indian side they also visited the zero line.
Involvement of Pak rangers and their expert help cannot be ruled out as the other opening of the tunnel fell close to the Afzal BoP of Pak rangers in the area.
This has been the fourth cross border tunnel emanating from Pakistan side which has been detected by BSF during the past five years. Earlier, three such tunnels were detected, one in Samba in July 2012 and the other in Akhnoor sector in 2013 and another in August 2014.