As snow falls, militants line up to enter India

Srinagar: In mountain peaks at 14,000 feet, the snow that is falling thick and deep provides perfect cover for militants looking to cross the border into Indian territory.

As dawn broke on Tuesday in the Tanghdar Sector of North Kashmir, infiltrators attempted to enter India for the fourth time in three days. One of them was killed, the other captured alive, revealing that "he had been under training for three months, from March to June, in the Muzaffarabad camp.

Thereafter, he was shifted for infiltration into Lippa Valley, where he was for 15-odd days. Here he was provided with equipment and guidance material," according to Lieutenant Colonel J S Brar, Defence Spokesperson.

Infiltration attempts are nearly 20 per cent higher this year than last year. And now that winter has set in, after October, there have been 9 attempts in which 17 militants have been killed. India says that the infiltrators are being helped by the Pakistan army, a routine practice. (Read: Pak Army facilitating infiltration, says BSF)

                                                      2009 (Till November)                      2008

Infiltration bids                                         41                                          33
Militants killed                                         71                                          75

The infiltration bids see a rise especially post-October after winter sets in in earnest.

                                             2009 October-November            2008 October-November

Infiltration bids                                          9                                              7
Militants killed                                          9                                             17

''We have inputs from various sources about large numbers of militants waiting at different points along the entire international border and the LoC and different launch pads in Pakistan. The entire border is alerted. The army is alerted at the LoC,'' says Raman Shrivastava the Director General of the Border Security Force.

But on Monday, the Border Security Force lost one of its senior-most officers. Deputy Inspector General OP Kamar was killed when he went to inspect the area near the Pallad checkpost in Samba District which had witnessed firing from across the border on Sunday night. (Read: Top BSFofficer killed in blast)

What worried local officials is that militants seem to have crossed over to plant an Improvised Explosive Device right at the gate of the checkpoint.