BSF launches operation to detect cross-border tunnel in Jammu-Kathua sector

The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive operation along the 180 km International Border (IB) with Pakistan to detect underground, cross border tunnels in view of possible attempts by armed terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

Armed with modern tools and equipment, BSF personnel began the operation with clearing bushes and digging the land close to the three tier border fencing up to the Zero Line with Pakistan.

Senior BSF officer said “The exercise has been launched along the IB in the Jammu frontier area to detect cross border, underground tunnel”. The officials said ,the troops had been asked to dig anti-tunneling channels of a particular depth along the border fencing in Jammu, Samba and Kathua.

The operation was initiated earlier this week following the arrest of a Pakistani youth from a village in the R S Pura sector in Jammu. The operation was initiated earlier this week following the arrest of a Pakistani youth from a village in the R S Pura sector in Jammu.

The operation, code named ‘Sudarshan’, was launched on July 1 and will cover the entire International Border with Pakistan stretching over 1,000 kms.

The BSF and Army troops have detected six cross-border tunnels along the border in Jammu region since 2012. These were used to push Pakistani terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, they said.

Earlier this week, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said Pakistan has reactivated the Balakot terror camp very recently and about 500 infiltrators were waiting to sneak into India. Balakot had suffered damaged and was destroyed by the cross-border strike by the Indian Air Force in February.

“That is why people have got away from there and now it has been reactivated,” the Army chief said in Chennai on Monday.