31 militants have sneaked into J&K through Gurez sector: Army

Srinagar, Apr 25 (PTI) A group of 100-120 men, including
31 militants, have crossed into the state through the Gurez
sector in Northern Kashmir, the Indian Army Saturday said.

"Thirty-one militants along with 40-45 porters, guides
and other helpers had crossed the Line of Control," Brigadier
Gurmeet Singh told reporters here.

He said some of the militants, who have undergone 18-90
days of intensive training, were "drugged" and pushed through
the difficult terrain by their handlers.

Brigadier Singh said that the wire obstacles that were
erected to check any infiltration bid had got submerged in the
heavy snow, making the crossing easy.

He said that large number of militants were waiting
across the border to sneak in the state. The Army also said
that "armed forces across the border do support them
(militants)."

The support was evident from the communication and other
equipments being used by the militants, he said.

The Army also produced before the media an arrested
Pakistani militant of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. The militant
Syed Moinullah Shah, who claimed to be the native of North
West Frontier Province, said Taliban had no role in the
Kashmir militancy. PTI ABS

BSF well equipped to face terrorist or Taliban attack: Kumawat

Agartala, Apr 25 (PTI) India's Border Security Force is
well equipped to face any terrorist or Taliban attack from
across the border, BSF Director General M L Kumawat said
Saturday.

"The western border is well guarded, well fenced, well
equipped and well manned to face any kind of terrorist or
Talibani attack from other side of the border," Kumawat said,
adding that Talibans and other anti-Indian elements were using
the soil of Pak occupied Kashmir to create menace.

Kumawat, who is on a three-day visit to the state which
shares a 856-km long porous border with Bangladesh, told
reporters that Border Security Force (BSF) would have to
remain alert and cautious to check infiltration as Pakistani
terrorists are now using Bangladesh to enter India.

After the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government came
to power in Bangladesh, relation between BSF and BDR has
improved, the BSF DG said.

After the recent BDR mutiny, Bangladesh government sought
assistance from BSF so that the belligerent groups could not
cross the border to enter Indian territory, he said. PTI