Barbed wire cut on India-Pakistan border, red alert in Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU - A red alert was sounded all across Jammu and Kashmir Saturday after a long stretch of the barbed wire fence on the India-Pakistan border was found cut. There have been intelligence reports that terrorists were desperate to mount a spectacular attack in the state in the run-up to Republic Day.

A group of infiltrators cut several metres of barbed wire fence along Ranbirsinghpora sector, taking advantage of thick fog in the area, about 30 km west of Jammu Friday night. This was detected Saturday when the fog cleared.

“It’s a very serious breach and this has been done with professional expertise,” a Border Security Force (BSF) official told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The possibility of armed infiltrators having made it to this side of the border was not being ruled out by the intelligence agencies.

“We are alive to infiltration from the international border,” Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda told reporters.

“Pakistan is desperate to mount an attack in Jammu and Kashmir, but we have sounded alert and our forces are fully prepared to foil any misadventure of terrorists,” he said.

Airports, television stations, radio stations and headquarters of the forces in the state have been asked to take special care.

Intense checks are going on all across the state. VIPs have been asked to restrict their movement and vehicles are not being allowed to be parked at sensitive places.