Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Srinagar, Nov 09 (KNS): The Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Nitin Agrawal,Thursday said that security forces are unwavering in their commitment to thwart any attempts of infiltration along the borders.
Director General Agrawal underscored the state of readiness of the security forces, emphasizing their unwavering vigilance in the face of ongoing attempts to infiltrate individuals or groups across the border.
"Maintaining a heightened state of alertness is paramount to ensuring the safety and security of the people, particularly in light of repeated attempts to infiltrate militants before the onset of specific seasons or conditions conducive to such activities. Security forces have been actively monitoring the situation, continuously adapting their strategies, and are prepared to respond swiftly to any indicators of infiltration,” DG Agrawal as per KNS, told reporters here in Srinagar.
Agrawal, highlighted the persistent efforts across the border to infiltrate militants before winter and the closure of mountain routes due to heavy snowfall.
The DG also attended and reviewed the passing out parade of 599 BSF recruits at the Subsidiary Training Centre (STC) Kashmir in Humhama, on the outskirts of the city.
Agrawal pointed out that these infiltration attempts are an annual occurrence as the other side seeks to introduce a significant number of militants before the snowfall season, when accessibility becomes severely limited.
The DG BSF affirmed that the security forces maintain a state of high alert, emphasizing his recent visit to the Line of Control (LoC), where he met with troops and Army officers who remain vigilant. He assured that any infiltration attempts will be promptly foiled.
Agrawal noted the consistent success of security forces in thwarting these designs, with a recent encounter resulting in the elimination of a terrorist in Shopian. He expressed concern over militants targeting civilians, a sign of their desperation.
Regarding a ceasefire violation in the Samba district of Jammu, where a BSF trooper was injured, Agrawal disclosed that Pakistani troops had targeted Indian posts on multiple occasions and attacked BSF personnel. While there may have been significant damage on the other side, the DG mentioned that the exact extent remained unconfirmed.
Unfortunately, the injured BSF head constable later succumbed to his injuries.
Agrawal acknowledged the ongoing firing incidents across the border, which has been transpiring over the past two weeks.
“However, the reasons behind these incidents are not yet clear. The security forces are actively engaged in discussions to discern the motives and devise a suitable strategy for countering them,” he said.
Agrawal recognized the challenge in predicting the course of such incidents and emphasized that Indian forces only respond when provoked, without initiating hostilities.
He addressed the possibility of firing being a cover for infiltration, noting that the International Border generally presents a lower risk of infiltration.
In addition to his media briefing, Agrawal conducted an inspection of the passing out parade and attestation ceremony for five batches of recruits.
These trainees originate from various regions in eastern and southern India, with 204 from Odisha, 208 from Andhra Pradesh, 112 from Kerala, and 75 from Telangana.(KNS)