New Delhi: In a first clear indication that the Pakistani forces are working hand in glove with Lashkar-e-Tayyaba terrorists to unleash violence and terror on the Indo-Pak frontier in Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) has spotted armed militants dressed in civilian clothes moving along with the Pakistani troops which have escalated ceasefire violations and indulged in unprovoked firing in the last few days.

The modus operandi is to push terrorists across the border into JK by keeping the Indian troops engaged in retaliatory action, top BSF officials have said.

Throwing up evidence of involvement of terror groups being aided and shielded by the Pakistani forces, the BSF said it has gunned down at least two suspected LeT terrorists in retaliatory action in the last few days. On three more occasions, terrorists have been spotted moving close to the international border. The gunning down of suspected LeT terrorists comes as evidence of the involvement of terror outfits who are getting the support and cover of Pakistani troops to fuel violence.

On the Indian side, there have been two civilian casualties and 19 people who have suffered injuries. On Sunday, BSF director-general D.K. Pathak said that the force has received clear instructions from the Union home ministry that there should be “retaliatory action” and a “befitting reply” will be given to the Pakistani forces in the form of intense and heavy volume of firing.

“On at least three occasions, with the help of our hand-held thermal imaging gadgets, we have observed that few people in civil dress armed with weapons were moving very close to the International Border in the darkness of the night. When we fired, they retreated. We presume they were militants,” the BSF DG said.

