Kathua terror attack prompts cross-state security collaboration

Srinagar, July 11: In a significant move to enhance border security, top officials from the Border Security Force (BSF), intelligence agencies, and the Police forces of J&K and Punjab convened to discuss and develop cutting-edge strategies for border management.

The high-level meeting held at District Police Lines (DPL) Kathua focused on innovative solutions to address the evolving challenges of border security, aiming to strengthen collaboration and effectiveness in safeguarding the region.

This meeting was held in the wake of a deadly terrorist ambush on an Army patrol carried out by terrorists who are said to have infiltrated from across the International Border (IB).

The ambush, which occurred on the Machedi-Kindli-Malhar mountain road near Badnota village, around 150 km from the district headquarters of Kathua, resulted in the loss of five Army personnel, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO).

Five additional personnel were injured when the terrorists opened fire at two Army vehicles on Monday.

The review meeting was attended by key figures in security and law enforcement, including Special DG of BSF Western Command, Y B Khurania; DGP J&K Police Rashmi Ranjan Swain; DGP Punjab Police Gaurav Yadav; Special DG, IS, R N Dhoke; Special DGP (Law and Order), Punjab, Arpit Shukla’ ADGP (Law and Order), J&K, Vijay Kumar, ADGP Jammu Zone Anand Jain, IGPs of BSF A K Digambar and D K Boora, DIGs Sunil Gupta, JSK Range, J&K Police,

S S Maan, DIG Samba Kathua Range, BSF, Rakesh Kaushal, DIG Border Range Punjab and other officers.

The discussions focused on assessing and enhancing the security grid along the IB to address and rectify any vulnerabilities.

During the meeting, officials said that the terrorists had infiltrated through the IB and reached the dense forests of Machedi, an area that connects Basantgarh in Udhampur and Bhaderwah in Doda district.

They said that this route had been used by terrorists during the peak of terrorism in the area over two decades ago.

Although these areas had been cleared of terrorist presence, the resurgence of terror activities has reignited severe security concerns.

To tackle terrorism, threadbare discussions were held and suggestions were sought from all stakeholders in the security establishment.

It was decided that the anti-infiltration grid along the IB would be strengthened more, mostly by the BSF.

The BSF and the border Police forces of J&K and Punjab have been alerted and directed to remain vigilant against infiltration attempts and drone flights from Pakistan.

There were reports that terrorists were also infiltrating through the riverine Gurdaspur border in Punjab, besides the traditional routes in Kathua, Samba, and Jammu districts.

“Today a highly useful inter-state coordination conference between BSF, J&K Police, central agencies, and the Punjab Police was held in Kathua, to focus on enhancing border security and synergy between the two Police forces and the border guarding force,” DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav wrote on X after the meeting.

“The conference was attended by Special DG BSF Western Command, DGP J&K, DGP Punjab, and senior officers from the Punjab Police, J&K Police, BSF, and central agencies for exchange of best practices and exploring innovative solutions to bolster border management and public safety,” he said.

A report said that the BSF and J&K Police’s Special Operation Group (SOG) have launched a special drive in the border areas of Samba to track cross-border tunnels, if any, through which Pakistani agencies push in terrorists.

The BSF had in the past detected several such cross-border tunnels, particularly in the Samba and Jammu districts.

Earlier, DIG JSK Range, IG BSF Jammu, DIG BSF Gurdaspur, and SSP Pathankot, gave presentations after which in-depth discussions were conducted addressing key security concerns.

In light of the discussions, several strategic initiatives were proposed to augment the security framework along the border.

To foster better coordination and synergy between the BSF and Police forces of Punjab and J&K, the meeting also recommended regular joint training sessions and drills.

MASSIVE HUNT UNDERWAY

Meanwhile, security forces have intensified their search operations in the Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur and Doda areas where the searches entered the fourth day.

The ambush had resulted in the deaths of five Army personnel and injuries to five others.

In response, additional Army personnel have been deployed across the dense forests and hilly areas.

So far, over three individuals have been detained for questioning.

The search operation has been expanded into the hilly areas of Kathua, Udhampur, and Doda districts that have seen an increase in terror incidents since June.

Troops from the Army’s 9 Corps have intensified their presence in the Kathua hills while the Delta Force of the 16 Corps has increased personnel in Udhampur and Doda.

The focus is on areas like Seoj Dhar, a known sanctuary for terrorists, particularly foreign terrorists, in the 1990s.

The security forces are proceeding with caution due to the threat of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The ground teams are being supported by surveillance data from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and special forces and sniffer dog units have been deployed.

The menace of border smuggling, narcotics, arms, and contraband was deliberated upon during the meeting.

The officials reviewed recent seizures and intelligence inputs, identifying key smuggling routes and methods.

The meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening checkpoints, increasing frisking operations, and enhancing the capabilities of canine units.