Besides the police and Border Security Force (BSF) leaving no stone unturned to guard the IB in the plains of Jammu region, action against Over Ground Workers (OGWs) is also continuing in which many terror associates helping the ultras have been arrested or detained.
Vigil has been heightened, with the dipping temperature, along the IB in Kathua, Samba and Jammu district as the terrorists traditionally try to sneak in from these sectors in winter. It becomes difficult for ultras to cross the Line of Control (LoC) manoeuvring through tough terrain due to heavy accumulation of snow.
Police DIG Shiv Kumar Sharma recently conducted a joint patrol with the BSF along the Chenab that divides the border between India and Pakistan in the Paragwal area in Jammu district. Security and border management grid of various villages along the chicken neck border in Gardkhal, Malabella, Sohan Kanachak, was reviewed.
Many terror incidents have taken place in the mountainous Kishtwar and Doda districts in recent months suggesting that the groups of terrorists were hiding in the forest areas of these regions. Most of these areas will be snowbound soon.
Army and the police have also held meetings with locals in Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi and other districts where they were asked to be vigilant of any suspicious movement and inform the security forces in case they saw any suspicious outsiders moving in the area. The security forces have been trying to strengthen their human intelligence since there was a spurt in terror activity.
Jammu ADGP Anand Jain also reviewed operational preparedness of Special Operations Group (SOG) of the police in Kathua. Special emphasis was laid on the Bani-Machedi axis which has emerged as a crossing point for ultras.
The ADGP reviewed the security arrangements, counter-insurgency strategies and preparedness for addressing emerging challenges in the border district.
Even in Samba district, the police and BSF conducted a joint patrolling exercise along the Indo-Pak border in the Ghagwal-Samba sector.
Samba SSP Virender Singh Manhas along with Commandants of 65 Bn BSF and 159 Bn BSF held intensive patrolling exercises. The exercise aimed to assess security preparedness and strategic locations along the IB in the district. Many nullahs, streams and culverts near the border are also being inspected for their potential vulnerabilities.
