HVK Archives: ISI plan to revive militancy in Punjab
ISI plan to revive militancy in Punjab - The Indian Express
Express News Service
()
September 28, 1998
Title: ISI plan to revive militancy in Punjab
Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: September 28, 1998
After having failed to motivate local youth in Punjab to join
militant ranks, the Pakistan Inter Services Intelligence (ISI)
has started pushing into this side of the border its own
nationals under the guise of Sikhs.
Disclosing this to newsmen here before leaving for Delhi to join
his new posting, the outgoing Inspector General of Border
Security Force (BSF), Jammu Frontier, B L Vohra, confirmed
having received reports of some turban bearing Pak nationals
also infiltrating into Rajouri and Poonch districts along with
the Kashmiri militants.
One such turbaned Pak militant was recently killed by the
security forces near the line of Control in Poonch district, a
senior BSF official accompanying Vohra said and added that this
was being done by the ISI in a desperate attempt to revive
militancy in Punjab.
The outgoing IG BSF further disclosed that Pak ISI has shifted
its camps from Quohata to Sialkote, with a major focus on Kotli.
As a result the militant activities have increased on the South
of Pir Panjal (Jammu region) as compared to North of Pir Panjal
(Kashmir Vafiey), he said while referring to the spurt in
infiltration attempts by militants through Surankote and
Balakote areas of Poonch district.
Referring to the ongoing militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Vohra
said the Pak ISI had started sending foreign mercenaries and its
own ex-soldiers having eight to 12 years of experience of war.
This has followed the growing disillusionment among the local
Kashmiris against militancy, he said and added the number of
training camps in Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) has also decreased.
However, to cheek infiltration from across the border, the BSF
has initiated various measures including installation of solar
fights, strengthening of the existing cattle fencing, setting up
additional security pickets and stepping up patrolling along the
border. Besides, it has installed various indigenous made
electronic gadgetry, including infiltration alarms, at sensitive
areas along the border.
Vohra said the installation of solar and halogen fights along
the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kathua districts have
helped in checking trans border activities to a considerable
extent. Many a times, infiltrators return to Pakistan after
noticing the solar lights, he said and added a Pak militant
recently sneaked into R S Pura sector from across the border as
the solar light at a point was off.
However, as the intruder stood under the pole to take stock of
the BSF positions, the solar light suddenly went on illuminating
the entire area. The baffled intruder was immediately shot at
by the BSF before he could make an attempt to run back to
Pakistan, he added.
He said the stepped up vigil by the BSF on borders has increased
the number of casualties among militants. The alert BSF jawans
killed 87 intruders and militants along the border and also in
Romeo sector comprising parts of Udhampur and Rajouri districts
during the last one year, he added.
Besides, guarding the country's frontiers with Pakistan, the BSF
also initiated a number of measures for the welfare of the local
people, including installation of pump sets for g water supply,
organise medical camps and plantation. It also constituted
Village Defence Committees and provided weapons to the members
after their arms training in the militancy infested Romeo
sector.
About the people living in the militancy infested far off hilly
areas of Jammu region, Vohra said the BSF has suggested the
State Government to rehabilitate them at identified places for
their security. "We have even provided a fist of about 2,400
educated unemployed youths in our areas to the Government," he
said and added the problem of unemployment in, these areas can
be tackled by raising two battalions.
He also favoured the raising of the companies of local youths by
the BSF for permanent posting in their respective native places.
Such companies will be of great help to the new BSF battalions
deployed in their areas, he added.
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