With the snow fast melting in Pir Panjal ranges along the Line of Control, cross-border infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir has shown an over 25 per cent increase in the first four months of 2007 as compared to last year, top state intelligence officials said on Wednesday.
"Snow has been fast melting in Pir Panjal border belt along LoC. As a result of this, there has been an over 25 per cent increase in trans-border infiltration from across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir this year," they told PTI quoting an official report.
As compared to 74 militants having infiltrated via LoC last year from January to April-end, as many as 102 militants have crossed into Jammu and Kashmir from the other side this year during the same period, they said.
This fact has been reflected in a recent report of the state Criminal Investigation Department submitted to the Centre, they said.
CID, which continuously undertakes security reviews on monthly, quarterly and yearly basis on multiple fronts, has expressed concern over increase in the level of infiltration in the backdrop of recent demands for troop withdrawal.
Giving further details, the officials said as many as 11 militants have crossed into J&K through the LoC in January 2007 -- same as in January 2006.
Ten militants have infiltrated in February 2007 as compared to no infiltration reported in the month last year, they said.