The Hindu : Now, militants are using animals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 08, 2003

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

Now, militants are using animals

By Luv Puri

Akhnoor (Jammu) June 7. Despite strengthening of security on the international border and the Line of Control, militants have devised innovative techniques to infiltrate.

In the early 1990s, infiltration was easy as the border was porous. Now infiltration has become difficult due to tighter layers of security. Fencing operations have also started. After "Operation Parakramam, the entire stretch was mined heavily. But de-mining did not follow the demobilisation of troops along the Line of Control.

Of late, animals are being used to pave the way for infiltration by militants. Animals tied with explosives are sent to this side to clear the mines. Some time ago in the forward areas of Akhnoor, troops caught a buffalo tied with explosives. A senior officer says, "The strategy is simple. As the animal enters this side of the border it would be blown up into pieces when it stepped on a mine and this would also ignite explosives in the nearby areas where pieces of the body would fall."

Recently, a group of militants which had been successful in making its way into the Indian territory kidnapped a local resident of the area and forced him to act as a guide.

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Now, militants are using animals