146 infiltration bids reported along IB since 2014

New Delhi: A total of 146 infiltration attempts along International Border (IB) were reported between 2014 and June 15 this year. All those attempts were foiled and 25 terrorists were neutralised while trying to sneak into Indian territory from Pakistan, a government data revealed.

All these infiltration attempts took place through borders along Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan, said the data, adding the maximum number of infiltration cases was reported in Jammu and Kashmir and minimum in Rajasthan.

In the span of around six and a half year (between January 1, 2014 and June 15, 2020), the BSF has also apprehended 12 terrorists which were pushed through launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan's Punjab province to this side of the border to escalate violence in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.

The BSF is the nodal force responsible to thwart infiltration attempts through 3,323 kilometre border between India and Pakistan. Apart from ensuring zero infiltration attempt through the borders between the two countries, the 2.5 lakh personnel strong Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) or paramilitary force is responsible to curb smuggling and illegal activities being carried out through the border from the Pakistan side.

The revelation followed the June 20 incident when the BSF troops shot down a Pakistani HexaCopter drone carrying one M4 carbine machine (US Made), two filled magazines, (60 rounds), seven chinese grenades near IB in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district.

Multiple intelligence agencies assessing ground reports from across the IB and the LoC have found that Pakistani Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) would gather trained terrorists and push them through their launching pads. The number of launching pads in Pakistan is close to 300, said a source.

These militants are brought from training camps run by the ISI in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan's Punjab province and Afghanistan. They belong to known groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

As per the data, a total of three infiltration bids were reported this year till June 15 -- one in Jammu and Kashmir and two in Punjab. of the three, one militant was killed while others managed to flee.

The number was six in 2019 when three infiltration attempts were made through Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab borders each. The BSF foiled these attempts and managed to neutralise four militants.

The infiltration bids were comparatively much higher in 2018 when 29 cases were noted -- Jammu and Kashmir (21), Punjab (7) and Rajasthan (1). These attempts were also foiled by the BSF which also killed seven militants and apprehended one.

A total of 21 infiltration attempts were made in 2017 and the terrorists tried to enter into Indian territory both through Jammu and Kashmir (11) and Punjab (10) borders. All attempts were foiled, and 10 of those militants trying to enter into Indian territory were killed by the BSF troops.

There was a slight jump in 2016 when 25 infiltration attempts were made by the terrorists -- 19 through Jammu and Kashmir and six through Punjab. The BSF then apprehended 11 infiltrators.

Maximum of 62 infiltration attempts were reported in 2015. Of them 61 were attempted through Jammu and Kashmir and one through Punjab borders but all were foiled by the BSF. Only three infiltration attempts were reported in 2014 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi government came to power.