Attackers using nullah, riverine areas along IB, plug them: Omar

Jammu, Mar 20:Asking them to learn lessons from past incidents, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said BSF should try to plug holes in the International Border (IB) as militants were "repeatedly" using routes like nullahs or riverine areas to carry out attacks.

"I urge Centre and state governments learn some lessons from previous attacks. The infiltrating militants are repeatedly using these routes (via nallahs and riverine areas along International Border)", Omar told reporters here today.

"They (BSF) could not rectify this weakness (in the anti-infiltration obstacle setup along IB), he alleged. "Now the central government is in power for last seven months, they should do something to stop such attacks. As they used to blame us in the past".

Omar said, that "when such attacks took place during my rule we asked the BSF to block the riverine and nallah along the IB (International Border) so that infiltration is put to stop. The infiltrators are using nallah along the Border. Some places you have fencing and some places you have installed lighting system, but these nallah are open."

A policeman was among two persons killed and nine others injured, including seven CRPF men, when a group of militants of a 'fidayeen' squad dressed in Army fatigues stormed a police station in Kathua district of the state in the wee hours today.

"I can say with confidence that once the probe of this encounter takes place, you will find that these militants might have come this morning only and during the night they might have infiltrated. They found first target Kathua Police station and they attacked it", Omar said.

"I pay respects to those brave soldiers of police, who laid down their lives", he said. "I condemn it. This type of attacks have taken in the past also and the route has been repeatedly being used by them", he said.

"My thoughts are with those brave security personnel dealing with the fidayeen attack in Kathua town of Jammu this morning," he added.

PTI