BSF to realign deployment along Jammu-Pakistan border following recent terror attacks

The Border Security Force (BSF) may “realign its deployment” along the Jammu border with Pakistan following at least four terror attacks in the past few weeks.

In just four days, between June 9 and June 12, 10 people, including a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) soldier, were killed in militant attacks in Reasi, Doda and Kathua districts.

Except for two unidentified terrorists who were killed in Kathua after locals informed the police, none of the militants involved in the other three attacks have been arrested so far.

On June 11 and 12, two suspected terrorists were killed in Saida Sukar near Koota Mor in Hira Nagar area of ​​Kathua, close to the Pakistan border, following an alert raised by local residents. One of the terrorists was blown up with his own grenade, while the other was killed in an attack by security forces over 12 hours later.

On June 19, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested a local resident, Hakam Din (45), for allegedly harboring terrorists who attacked a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi.

Additional monitoring

Government officials Hindu While it is yet to be ascertained how the terrorists entered India, a decision has been taken to deploy additional rapid response teams (QRTs) and surveillance equipment along the Jammu border to keep a close watch on sensitive areas.

“Personnel will have to be pulled from other sectors and deployed along Jammu. Preparations are on. Alertness has been increased but realignment and deployment of available manpower is underway. A combination of technology and human intelligence is required,” the official said.

Waves of fear

Analysis of the incident revealed that terrorists first attacked a bus carrying pilgrims at Reasi on June 9. The next attack took place at 7:30 pm on June 11 at Kathua, 89 km away, when terrorists opened fire on villagers for not providing them with water. A few hours later, at around 2 am on June 12, another attack was reported at Chattargala in Doda, 56 km away, when a joint army and police patrol engaged the terrorists. This was followed by a fourth attack at around 8:20 pm the same day in an encounter between terrorists and security forces at Kota Top in Gando, Doda, about 24 km away.

While Jammu’s 192-km international border is guarded by the BSF, the 740-km Line of Control, which is the actual border between the Kashmir Valley and parts of Jammu, is under the operational control of the Army.

As reported earlier, there has been an increase in terrorist activities and infiltration targeting the Chenab Valley, including Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban districts, and the Pir Panjal region, including Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu, compared to the Kashmir Valley, since mid-2021.

Terrorists on the run

Officials noted that in previous major terror attacks in the region, terrorists have yet to be identified or arrested.

For example, the militants who ambushed an army vehicle in Poonch Rajouri on December 21, 2023, killing four soldiers, are yet to be identified or arrested. The People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a proxy organisation of Jaish-e-Mohammed banned by the federal government in 2023, claimed responsibility for the attack on the army convoy. The terrorist group posted pictures of the ambush on social media. PAFF first came to the attention of security agencies in October 2021 after nine soldiers were ambushed and killed in a forest area in Poonch close to the Line of Control. The organisation had released an eight-minute video of the attack.