MHA monitored work regularly due to vulnerability of IB
*Most of border posts also restored
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Oct 11: The Border Security Force (BSF) has stepped-up re-construction of fencing where it was submerged while repair work of fence and border posts is nearing completion which was damaged in heavy floods in August this year along the International Border (IB) in Jammu region and Punjab.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Officials told the Excelsior that work was taken up fast for reconstruction of fencing where it was completely damaged or submerged in the floods and where it required repair along the International Border (IB) in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts and many areas of neighbouring Punjab. The forward border posts which were washed away or were damaged have also been repaired.
“Entire work is expected to be completed shortly,” they said, adding the fencing work was also reviewed by the Union Home Ministry which has regularly been monitoring the situation on the International Border with a view to ensure that the terrorists don’t manage to infiltrate from across the border taking advantage of situation caused by the floods.
Following damage to the fencing and border posts, the BSF had started surveillance through drones, boats and manual patrolling besides using various other modes to thwart any attempts by Pakistan-backed terrorists to sneak into this side. Simultaneously, the reconstruction and repair work was taken up for fencing as well as damaged posts, the officials said.
The Home Ministry took keen interest in ensuring that there is no delay in reconstruction and repair of fencing along the border which has been vulnerable because of infiltration attempts by the terrorists from across the border; they added and said the task was taken up on war-footing.
Jammu, Samba and Kathua share International Boundary with Pakistan and all these three districts besides others in the Jammu region were badly hit by flash floods triggered by heavy rains. Chenab river and its tributaries which flow through different parts of Akhnoor and Basantar and its tributaries in Samba all were flowing above danger mark on August 26 and following days. Besides, several Nullahs in Jammu, Samba and Kathua were in spate causing extensive damages to Government infrastructure and civilian property besides the fencing and border posts.
The damage was huge in Akhnoor and Pargwal due to Chenab fury. Also, the fence and posts suffered extensive damage on the International Border in neighbouring Punjab also especially the border districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar due to flash floods.
Even before Monsoon fury, there had been reports of infiltration attempts from the International Border in Hiranagar sector and some other areas in Kathua district besides neighbouring Pathankot district of Punjab.
Latest visible infiltration was reported in the end of March this year when a group of terrorists was trapped initially at Hiranagar and then at Ghati in Kathua district. Four police personnel were martyred in the gun battle while two terrorists were killed and rest managed to escape towards upper reaches of Billawar.
“The BSF has, however, taken all possible steps to ensure that Pakistan and the terrorist commanders don’t manage to take advantage of flood-situation to push the infiltrators,” the sources said.
The post Re-construction, repair of fencing taken up on war-footing, nearing completion appeared first on Daily Excelsior.