SRINAGAR: A day after Indian and Pakistan border guards held a flag meeting to discuss the border ceasefire violations, the BSF on Saturday detected a tunnel originating from the Pakistani side along the International Border (IB) in Arnia sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
A BSF official said troops of 62 Bn BSF detected an unfinished tunnel ahead of the border fence in Arnia during search operation today.
The tunnel was about 12 to 14 feet long with 3 feet height and 2 and a half feet width, he said.
The sector witnessed heavy firing and mortar shelling by Pakistani troops this month during which a BSF man and a civilian were killed and many others, including border guards injured.
The BSF official said after receiving inputs that Pakistani troops may attempt to push militants into the valley from the Jammu sector, BSF men were placed on high alert along the entire International Border.
The border guards had also intensified the patrolling and vigil close to the fencing.
“The search operation was launched near the border fence on this side of IB in Arnia sector. While carrying out searches in area ahead of the fence, BSF men observed suspicious movement of around 10-12 Pakistani nationals on the bank of Dhamala nallah on the other side of IB,” the BSF official said.
He said after observing the movement of BSF party, the Pakistani nationals ran away from the spot leaving behind stores including ammunition.
“Suspecting foul smell, BSF men conducted searches in the area and found an unfinished tunnel of around 12-14 feet length, approximately 3 feet height and 2 and a half feet width on the slope of bank of Indian side of Dhamalla nallah ahead of the border fence,” the official said.
He said the opening end of the tunnel was in Pakistan side while its dead end was 14 meters between border fence and zero line.
It was the second tunnel detected by BSF men along the border in the State this year.
On February 13, BSF had detected a tunnel along the IB in Ramgarh sector of Jammu.
The official said during the search of the area, where unfinished tunnel was detected, 2 AK 47 magazines, 1 hand grenade, 1 magazine pouch, 13 Duracell, 9 Pencil cells, 3 Headlamps used for digging, Compass US made, 3 Haver Sac, 4 Sleeping bags, 4 waterproof raincoats, 1 Gas Cylinder Stove, 6 digging tools, 6 wooden planks, 1 rope, 1 measuring tape and 1 Knife/Khukhri were recovered.
He said the digging tools, fresh dug earth and length of tunnel indicates that the tunnelling work has started some days back with an intent to infiltrate a strong group of militants into this side to foment trouble in the State.
The official said the BSF men have detected four tunnels along the IB in last one year.
The BSF has launched a special drive for detection of tunnels along the border with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.