Author: Pradeep Dutta
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: May 18, 2004
With surveillance grids and fencing
along the border ensuring a "zero infiltration syndrome", militant trainers
at the launch pads in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir are forcing the militant
groups to experiment with new ways to enter into Indian territory.
The elimination of three Hizbul
Mujahideen infiltrators, earlier this week along the LoC reveals the militants'
new "experimentation strategy"
It began earlier this month when,
after finishing their arms training, three Hizbul ultras reached Kotli
launch pad in PoK prior to venturing into Indian territory. Before they
left Kotli, their trainers had special instructions for them - something
they had not done before.
The instructions revolved around
evading the surveillance grid to cutting the fencing set up along the Indo-Pak
border during the ceasefire. To make the mission successful electric current
testers, cutters and rubber tubes were added to their kit along with arms
and some cash.
The trio's "experimental journey"
began on May 8. After hours of trekking, the group led by a guide somehow
managed to evade the Indian snipers and reached near the ridge on the eastern
slopes of Pir Badesar.
Holding lathis with rubber pads
on their tips, they began walking down the ridge. The rubber pads were
to ensure that no noise was made to alert the Indian troops. This way they
managed to escape the human ear but they couldn't escape the thermal imagers
planted by Indian troops.
Having observed their activities,
the troops remained quiet till the militants reached the fence. The guide
used the rubber tube to make a passage through the fence.
The Army personnel observing this
switched off the generator sets to ensure that no bulb lit up when the
fence was touched thus alerting the troops. This was done to create an
impression on other militants in a separate group that they can come near
as everything was fine.
Not realizing that they had been
spotted, the other two militants tried to sneak through the fence. However,
before they could get any further, the troops triggered off a claymore
mine killing the guide. The other two, who tried to escape, were also caught
thus bringing a premature end to their journey into Indian territory.
