Kathua DM imposes curbs on movement within 5 km of IB
To ensure the safety of the border villagers and prevent anti-national activities, the District Magistrate Kathua on Saturday imposed restrictions on “unnecessary movement” within a five-kilometre belt along the International Border (IB) with immediate effect.
Kathua District Magistrate Rajesh Sharma issued the order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which empowers executive magistrates to take preventive measures in urgent cases of apprehended danger to maintain public order and safety.
“The security situation in the border areas has become sensitive, and there is a possibility of cross-border firing at any time. Movement in the border areas is required to be restricted to ensure the utmost safety of villagers and prevent any anti-national activities,” the order reads.
These restrictions will remain in place from BOP (Border Outpost) Paharpur forward to BOP (Border Outpost) Karol Krishna. Moreover, movement of heavy vehicles, including trucks, tippers and multi-axle vehicles, is prohibited on the old Samba-Kathua Road from 9 pm to 6 am.
He said the order shall come into force from Saturday and shall remain in force for a period of Sixty Days from the date of its issuance or if rescinded, whichever is earlier.
In a related development, a major cross-border narcotics smuggling attempt was foiled along the International Border with the seizure of over 6.5 kg of heroin worth over Rs 40 crore in the RS Pura sector of Jammu frontier.
The contraband was recovered during a joint operation of the 165th battalion of Border Security Force (BSF) and police from Nai Basti Karotana village in Baspur area, following information about a drone dropping material from across the border. Police received information about the suspected drone movement on the intervening night of February 13 and 14, a police spokesperson said.
Two yellow-coloured packets containing 6.582 kg of heroin were found in the fields near the International Border during the search and subsequently seized, he said, terming the seizure as a “significant achievement” on the anti-drug trafficking front.
A case under the relevant section of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered, and further investigation is underway to trace the exact source and destination of the recovered contraband, he said, adding that a breakthrough is expected as the investigation progresses.
Police urged the citizens, especially those residing near the International Border, to come forward with any information regarding illegal drug activities in their localities.
