New Delhi: The Border Security Force (BSF) Wednesday detected an underground tunnel along the International Border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir after which security was beefed up in the region. According to officials, the tunnel is believed to have been used by two suicide bombers of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group gunned down by security forces after they attacked a CISF bus killing an Assistant Sub-inspector in Sunjwan area of Jammu on April 22, reported news agency PTI.
BSF officials also said that the tunnel was likely to be used by the terrorists to disrupt the upcoming Amarnath Ji Yatra. Suspected to be about 150 mtrs long, the tunnel originates from the Pakistan side. In less than two years, the BSF has managed to detect 5 such tunnels.
"With the detection of this tunnel, BSF Jammu has foiled the nefarious designs of Pakistan-based terrorists to disrupt upcoming Amarnath Ji Yatra; 21 sandbags recovered which were used to strengthen the exit of the tunnel. This is the 5th tunnel detected in less than 1.5yrs", said the BSF to the media, as reported by ANI.
"BSF Jammu detected a cross border tunnel on 4 May in the area of BOP Chak Faquira opposite the Samba area. This tunnel, with a 2ft opening, is freshly dug out & is suspected to be about 150m long originating from the Pakistan side," the Border Security Force further said in its statement.
It is to be noted that the two terrorists who were gunned down in an encounter in Sunjwan area of Jammu on April 22 after they attacked a bus carrying Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, had sneaked into India two days before the attack using the tunnel, reported ABP News.
They were helped by a truck driver and his assistant to reach Jammu from the Sapwal border in Samba district in the middle of the night.