Terror launchpads activated across border, security agencies step up measures; BSF foils infiltration bid

The detained person was identified as Abdul Khaliq, originally from Rajorui district’s Darhal area, and officials said he had links to Jaish-e-Mohammad.

According to police sources, Khaliq had crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2021. An MP5 rifle, along with a magazine and 10 bullets, as well as an empty drum magazine, was seized from him, they said.

The sources said that the BSF had noticed some suspicious movement across the border two days ago, and that they had accordingly intensified their vigil and patrolling along the barbed wire fence. As Khaliq crossed over to the Indian side, alert BSF personnel apprehended him. He was then handed over to police.

Earlier this month, the BSF’s Deputy Inspector General Vikram Kunwar had told journalists that Pakistan has once again activated over 70 terror launch pads in its border areas opposite Jammu province.

“While 12 terror launch pads have become active near the International Border in Pakistan’s Sialkot and Zafarwal areas, another 60 launch pads have come up in the areas across the LoC [near Jammu],” he had said.

The General Officer Commanding of the Nagrota-based White Knight Corps visited Mathiyanigala in Rajouri district to review the prevailing security environment and assess the operational preparedness of the troops deployed in the area.

The visit focused on evaluating ground readiness, coordination mechanisms and the operational posture maintained in support of the ongoing counterinsurgency operations, said a post by the White Knight Corps on its social media handle on X.

Senior Superintendent of Police in Reasi district, Paramvir Singh, conducted an extensive interaction with the Village Defence Groups (VDGs) at the firing butt near Rudd Pull in Arnas.

Pointing out that the SSP was accompanied by Additional SP Reasi, DySP DAR and SDPO Arnas, officials said that hundreds of VDG members from far-flung villages of Arnas attended the interaction programme.

The SSP, who reviewed the ongoing deployment and overall security preparedness of VDGs to deal with any suspicious movement in the district, also evaluated during the interaction, the proficiency of VDG members, including their weaponry, firing skills and weapon-handling techniques. He also inspected the firing practice being conducted by the Reasi district police and gathered information regarding their experience under the CRPF and the Army as their nodal point as per the standard operating procedure.

He stressed that upgrading firing accuracy, enhancing weapon-handling capabilities, and reinforcing operational readiness in line with established SOPs are aimed at improving the performance of VDGs.