'Infiltrators trying to trigger violence in J&K': Security forces on alert as Kathua emerges as renewed infiltration route for militants

Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir has come under the spotlight as a renewed infiltration route for militants crossing over from Pakistan.

 

According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Shobhit Saxena, recent findings have revealed the use of a traditional infiltration corridor along the international border (IB), which had been inactive for some time. “Recent confrontations have not only exposed a traditional infiltration corridor via the international border but also a plan to trigger violence in the region,” said Saxena.

 

Officials say the route now stands compromised and will not be allowed to be used again. In the past month alone, four encounters have taken place in Kathua, resulting in the killing of several foreign militants and the recovery of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives.

 

One of the major incidents occurred on March 27, in the Safiyan forest area, where two heavily armed militants were killed. Four police personnel also lost their lives during the operation. This was followed by another infiltration attempt foiled in the Saniyal forest area of Hiranagar.

 

Among the seized items were M4 carbines, AK-series rifles, grenades, GPS-enabled devices, clothes, sleeping gear, medical supplies and heroin, pointing to a possible link with drug trafficking. The recovered material suggests that the militants were well-equipped and prepared for an extended stay. 

 

Security officials believe their goal was not a one-off strike, but a sustained campaign using IEDs and possibly drug trafficking as well.

Police believe that three to four militants connected to the same group are still at large.

 

As part of the crackdown on local support networks, police have booked 30 individuals under the Public Safety Act (PSA). Security agencies see the recent encounters and recoveries as part of a larger plan by militant handlers to revive terrorism in Jammu using older infiltration routes that had seen less activity in recent years.

 

The incidents in Kathua indicate a shift in militant tactics, highlighting the need for constant vigilance along the IB and stronger cooperation between security forces and local communities.

India