BSF adopts ‘winter strategy’ to check infiltration

BSF has put in place its “winter strategy”, which includes deployment of devices that ensure visibility in fog, to prevent infiltration as it apprehends that terrorists may turn to International Border (IB) to sneak into India as the LoC would be inaccessible due to snow.

BSF has put in place its “winter strategy”, which includes deployment of devices that ensure visibility in fog, to prevent infiltration as it apprehends that terrorists may turn to International Border (IB) to sneak into India as the LoC would be inaccessible due to snow.

The steps to beef up the security along the IB have been taken after intelligence reports suggested that 8-10 militants have been brought close to the IB on the Pakistani side by ISI to carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir with the help of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

The BSF has installed anti-fog devices and deployed more troops along the International Border, putting in place its “winter strategy” to foil infiltration bids and terror attacks, according to a BSF official.

“The winter strategy has been put in place along the IB. In the middle of November onwards till the weather improves, we take several security measures to ensure that we become absolutely impregnable on the border,” he said.

The BSF apprehends that following the closure of passes in the higher reaches due to the snowfall, which makes crossing of Line of Control (LOC) nearly impossible, the militant outfits might shift their focus towards the IB which is manned by the BSF.

Besides increasing manpower and intensifying operations on the borders like patrolling, the BSF has also been making use of technology with a technical surveillance grid being set up along the border.

“Maximum efforts are made to enhance the visibility because fog also plays a spoilsport during the winters. We had taken the winter posture after Diwali,” the official said.

“A close watch is being kept. We have received reports that a small group of militants have been placed at different spots along the border line to infiltrate,” he added. Police also has issued instructions to its units near the IB to be alert.