Jammu, Dec 30:
As dense fog and a biting cold wave grip the Jammu frontier, the Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a massive “Winter Management Strategy” to secure the International Border (IB). Additional troops have been moved to forward positions in the Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts to ensure that terrorists and narcotics smugglers cannot exploit the zero-visibility conditions.
Despite temperatures plummeting, the morale of the jawans remains “sky-high.” Patrolling has become a 24/7 uninterrupted operation, with troops dominating riverine gaps, vulnerable forest patches, and sensitive sectors.
“Patrolling goes on day and night. The weather might be extreme, but it cannot deter us from our duty. People can celebrate the New Year with peace of mind—we are guarding the gates,” a BSF jawan told reporters at the border.
The BSF has integrated a suite of sophisticated electronic gadgets designed specifically to peer through the thickest winter haze: Advanced sensors that detect heat signatures, allowing troops to “see” movement even in total darkness or white-out fog. Reconstructed after monsoon damages, the fence now features alarm systems and fiber-optic sensors. With increased drone activity reported in neighboring Punjab, the Jammu sector has deployed specialized scanners to intercept UAVs carrying weapons or drugs. Ground devices are being used to monitor tunnels and difficult terrain.
The security setup isn’t limited to the first line of defense. A coordinated “Deep-Vigilance” model is in place:
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First Line: BSF personnel (including dedicated Women Battalions) manning the IB and zero line.
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Second Line: The Special Operations Group (SOG) and Jammu & Kashmir Police maintaining checkpoints on border-link roads.
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Third Line: Village Defence Guards (VDGs) keeping a watch in border hamlets to report any suspicious movement.
Intelligence inputs suggest that small groups of terrorists (3 to 4 individuals) are currently camping at “launch pads” across the border, waiting for peak fog hours to sneak across. This follows a high-stakes infiltration attempt in March in the Hiranagar sector, which resulted in the neutralisation of two terrorists.
Authorities confirmed that border infrastructure damaged during the August floods—including specific fencing patches between Jammu and Kathua—has been fully repaired and reinforced ahead of the winter peak.
