BSF foils infiltration bid by Pak militants in Kathua

Jammu, Jan 7: BSF has foiled yet another bid by Pakistan-based militants to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir under the cover of firing from across the border and thick fog in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"There was movement of a group of militants along international border in Pallia area in Chilyari-khora forward belt in Kathua district last night," a senior BSF officer said today.

Alert BSF troops opened fire foiling the infiltration bid, he said. This is the fifth infiltration attempt in a week by militants under the cover of firing by Pakistani troops and thick blanket of fog along the international border.

BSF had on Wednesday said that a large number of militants were waiting across the border for an opportunity to infiltrate and it has foiled four such attempts since New Year eve, when Pakistani troops started the latest round of ceasefire violations that have left four persons dead.

Director General of BSF D K Pathak yesterday visited border areas in Samba and Kathua to assess the situation.

"We had good proof of that (infiltration bids being engineered from Pakistan). What we feel that it could be one of the reasons for the provocation and we are on alert. We are watching. Whenever we feel that there is infiltration bid, we are doing the needful," he had said.

"They are trying all possible things but as I said that so far perhaps they have not succeeded in any kind of infiltration in this area," the DG said.

PTI