R-Day: BSF maintaining 'highest level' of alert on border

In view of the Republic Day celebrations, BSF is maintaining the "highest level" of alert on the Pakistan border in Jammu and Punjab while repeated attempts are being made from across the frontier to push in terrorists, the chief of the force K K Sharma said here today.
Sharma, who visited forward posts along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Samba sectors in the day, said "there were reports of some sightings across (of militants planning to infiltrate from Pakistan)" but that could not be verified.
"But attempts are being made to do so. And we are there on the borders to foil them," he told reporters here.

On the issue of threat along IB, he said like every year, this year there is a big threat.
"The highest level of the alert has been maintained along the borderline in Punjab and Jammu frontiers. On the occasions of January 26 and August 15, highest alert is being maintained," Sharma said.
"Attempts are being repeatedly made from the other side. But we are ready and alert. We will not allow them to succeed in Jammu and Punjab frontiers," he said.

Asked whether militants are getting help from Pakistan's paramilitary force Rangers, he said they are getting support from state machinery across. We believe they are getting State support. Launching pads and training camps are intact," he said.

"Attempts to push in militants have been made in the past. But we are alert. We are in a position to deal with anything," the BSF chief said.
He said all the attempts of infiltration have been foiled in Punjab and Jammu frontiers during last year. "The last such incident was when we killed three militants who infiltrated to this side via a tunnel in Samba," he said.
Asserting that more use of technology would be made in the border guarding, Sharma said latest gadgets and equipment are being inducted in BSF which, besides acting as force multiplier for better and more effective domination, will also provide relief to the jawans by way of reducing his workload.

"For this GOI is fully behind us. We are in the process of running a pilot project in this regard. We are going to try out latest technology and latest equipment available in the world," he said.
"On the issue of laser wall along IB, it is part of the pilot project aimed to increase the technological use for border guarding," he added.
On the ditch-cum-bandh proposal, he said that it has been put on hold.