 Avinash Azad
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Aug 29: In a major breakthrough, the Border Security Force (BSF) on Saturday detected an underground tunnel near the International Border in Bengalad area of Samba district. "It is 25-feet deep and 150-metre long on the Indian side. Some sandbags with markings of Shakkergarh and Karachi, both in Pakistan, were also found. The nearest Pakistani post across the border was nearly 400 metres from the tunnel", sources told Early Times, adding that however, it could not be ascertained immediately, but seems the old one. Sources said that the BSF guarding international border (IB) along Pak have launched a major search operation to find out other such hidden structures that aid infiltration. "No one know exactly, when the tunnel was dug-up, a scientific test will be done soon, samples have been lifted from the tunnel", sources said, adding "Not sure but, it can be possible that the terrorists have infiltrated through this tunnel in Indian side".
"It is a big-big success for us, there are several things that are not cleared yet, but soon we will have answers for each and every question", a senior officer said. SSP Samba, Shakti Pathak when contacted said that due to the recent rain, water has logged-in the tunnel. "Soon digging works at the tunnel will take place for further investigation. Initially, it is believed that the tunnel was not a concrete structure, as sand bags used on the both sides along the tunnel are found", he added.
It is pertinent to mention here that such underground cross-border tunnels in past were also detected in areas along the international border in Jammu region. In 2012, BSF had detected a 400-metre long tunnel in Samba sector and another near Line of Control in Palanwala sector in 2014, the same year another tunnel was detected in Chillyari area of Samba. This one was dug nearly 25 metres inside the Indian territory. In March 2016, a tunnel coming from Pakistan side was detected 30 metres inside the Indian side in R S Pura sector and another in Samba Sector in 2017. |
