Increase in infiltration attempts from Pakistan: BSF

There have been "desperate" and "daring" bids from Pakistan side by terrorists to infiltrate and such attempts have seen a considerable jump this year, BSF chief D K Pathak said today.
Talking to reporters ahead of BSF's 50th raising day, he also said there has been a "substantial increase" in cross border firing along the Western frontier which was largely aimed at pushing the terrorists inside the country.
The BSF chief put the number of infiltration attempts at 62 so far this year along the international border which stretches from Akhnoor in Jammu region to Rann of Kutch in Gujarat. The figures for last year stood at 48.

Though Pathak claimed that the number of successful infiltration attempts stood at zero, BSF has had embarrassing moments during this year when suicide squads of terror groups managed to enter Kathua region in Jammu as well as Gurdaspur in Punjab and killed civilians and policemen.
On March 20, two terrorists entered through Kathua border and stormed into a police station killing three policemen and two civilians. This was followed the next day by an abortive attempt by another two militants to storm an army camp.
On July 27, Punjab witnessed a terror attack after eight years when three terrorists entered through Gurudaspur area and stormed into a police station killing four policemen including a Superintendent of Police and three civilians.

Pathak, heading a 2.5 lakh personnel strong force, expressed "concern" over the reports of collaboration between terror group ISIS and certain other military organisations but maintained that his men were taking all possible steps to thwart their nefarious design.

Pathak said whatever challenges were thrown to "us by our
Western neighbour" were retaliated very effectively and none of their nefarious designs, none of their mischievous adventure, were allowed to succeed.
There have been substantial increase in cross border firings. There have been attempts to infiltrate during cross border firings. The purpose of cross border firing was to infiltrate, he said.

To a question on reported collaboration between ISIS and other militant outfits, the Director General of BSF said "all I can say you is that these are the issues which are matter of concern. Developments are being watched very closely and counter measures are being taken."
He said world over agencies are cautious. "We are also cautious. We are doing all what is possible. We are seized of the threat and whatever is required to be done to counter this threat, we are doing it," Pathak said.
He said after the recent DG-level talk between India and Pakistan, there have been cross border firings on three occasions.

On the Indo-Bangla border, Pathak said as many as 4,000 people have been apprehended for trying to come to India from Bangladesh. About 3,200 were held last year.
However, there has been 70 per cent decline in cattle smuggling. "Our percentage of seizure has increased and overall smuggling has decreased. In 2013, 22 lakh were seized. Last year, 18 lakh were seized and this year till July, four to 4.5 lakh have been seized," the chief said.
Pathak said a lot of measures have been taken in equipping the force to enable them to respond to any kind of situation in a much better way.

"Today we can say we are more modernised so far as our communication system is concerned, so far as our technical capabilities are concerned, so far as our weaponry are concerned. Our air wing has expanded. We inducted five MI 5 combat helicopters. Three more are going to be inducted in another one month or so.
"We have constructed a number of helipads at the border areas so that choppers will be able to land in any kind of emergency situation," he said.