Updated: November 22, 2020 7:42:39 pm
Security forces crossed the tunnel while clearing wild vegetation in areas along the international border.
In yet another indication of Pakistan’s involvement in aiding and inciting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, security forces sources said on Sunday that a cross-border tunnel had been detected in the Samba district.
The tunnel, approximately 5ft x 5ft in diameter, is suspected to have been used by four Jaish-e-Mohammad militants who were killed by police and security forces in Ban Toll Plaza near Nagrota along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Thursday morning.
Although details are expected, sources said the tunnel had an exit in overgrown terrain with wild growth nearly 150 meters into the Indian side, in the Regal area.
Security forces crossed the tunnel while clearing up wild growth in areas along the international border, following reports that the murdered militants had entered Union territory after crossing the border somewhere in the Samba sector. .
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A huge cache of weapons and ammunition, including 11 AK assault rifles, three pistols, 29 grenades and six UBGL grenades were recovered from the possession of the murdered terrorists, who, according to the police, had come to execute a “grand plan” to disrupt the District Development Council elections in Jammu and Kashmir, which will be held in eight phases starting November 28.
India had Saturday summoned the Charge d’Affaires of the High Commissioner of Pakistan and lodged a strong protest at the attempted attack. It also demanded that Islamabad “desist from its policy of supporting terrorists and terrorist groups operating from its territory,” the MEA had said in a statement.
“The huge stash of weapons, ammunition and explosive material indicates detailed planning of a major attack to destabilize peace and security in J & K’s UT, in particular, to derail the ongoing democratic exercise of conducting the local DDC elections. . The MEA summoned Pakistan Cd’A and a strong protest was presented against the attempted attack, which was only prevented by the state of alert of the Indian security forces, ”said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry in a statement rejected the accusation and “expressed the hope that India would desist from miscalculation.” Shortly after India filed a protest, Pakistan also summoned the Chargé d’affaires of the High Commissioner of India.
© The Indian Express (P) Ltd
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