Infiltrators using new routes to sneak in 
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, August 31
Even as the security forces have managed to cap the common routes used by the infiltrators along the Line of Control (LoC) to sneak into India, militants in an apparent new tactic are using less frequently used routes for crossing LoC in twin frontier districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
With election in the state probably slated later this year, the Pakistani Army is exploring all ways to infiltrate trained militants into this side to increase the violence level in this troubled state.
In the first such case, in February-March this year, more than 10 militants had reportedly sneaked into the Indian territory, using “less frequently used routes” from the Rakhi post in Sunderbani sector.
In a more recent case, a group of four to five militants allegedly chose the “not frequently used route” of Kaskancha in Laam sector of Nowshera tehsil of this frontier district to infiltrate to this side of the LoC and had reportedly successfully infiltrated into the Indian side.
“These militants who infiltrated through the less frequently used routes are reportedly active in Buddhal, Darhal and upper reaches of Thanamandi in this border district besides some are active near Mendhar, Surankote and upper reaches of Pir Panjal,” a intelligence source claimed.
He further said with the melting of snow on the mountains, the infiltrators preferred to sneak through the traditional routes of Mendhar, Balnoi, Krishna Ghati and Mankote in frontier district of Poonch and some areas in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors of this border district, but this time around the infiltrators have made attempts through the “less frequently used routes” of Jhallas, Mandi and Poonch sector in Poonch district and Rakhi post in Sunderbani, Jabran in Keeri sector near here and Kaskancha in Laam sector of Nowshera in this frontier district.
“Krishna Ghatti, Mendhar, Balnoi, Mankote in Poonch and Keeri, some border areas in Sunderbani and Nowshera in Rajouri were frequently used by infiltrators to sneak to this side of the LoC. But Jhallas, Mandi and Poonch sector in Poonch district and Rakhi post in Sunderbani, Jabran in Keeri sector near here and Kaskancha in Laam sector of Nowshera in this border district were not frequently used by infiltrators. Now they are using these routes also,” said an Army source.
“It appears that by choosing less frequently used infiltration routes, they are trying to reduce the causalities they suffer. Even as they are exploring new tactics to infiltrate into our territory, we are to the task and have been thwarting their attempts successfully,” the source added.
Despite repeated attempts, defence spokesperson couldn't be contacted. However, defence sources maintained that the Army was taking all preventive measures and has been successfully foiling all infiltration attempts through Rajouri and Poonch sectors.