Ultras explore new infiltration routes

Facing acute manpower crunch, militants waiting across the line of control (LoC) are desperately exploring new infiltration routes to sneak into Kashmir during winter to replenish their ranks.

“Elimination of large number of terrorists in the hinterland this year has created a vacuum in the militant leadership and their effectiveness. Therefore, there is pressure on the terrorists in the training camps/launch pads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) to infiltrate”, said a defence spokesman at Srinagar.

Intelligence reports say about 2,500 militant are present in the launching pads in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

With winter already set in and snow closing the mountain passes on the LoC, the army is apprehending infiltration from those routes which traditionally receive less snowfall. Uri sector in north Kashmir district of Baramulla, which receives less snowfall than passes in Kupwara, Machil, Gurez and other sectors, is seen as new favorite route of militants to sneak in during the winter.

“Traditionally, the infiltration decreases with onset of snow, but due to late winter terrorists, as in the past, will make desperate attempts to infiltrate in the coming few months”, he said.

Official figures reveal there have been 52 attempts of infiltration till June 2011 along the borders in J&K. Infiltration attempts in the state have shown a marginal increase during 2009 and 2010 in comparison to 2008.