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Tunnel dug with Pak 'officials' nod'

The Border Security Force has discovered three tunnels during the past two years in Punjab. The tunnels were dug by Pakistani militants for infiltrating into India along with arms and ammunition, according to BSF Director General E N Rammohan.

Two tunnels, each about 200-foot-long, were discovered in the Amritsar area on March 12, 1997 and January 23, 1998 during routine patrolling by the BSF.

The third, which was found on November 19 this year, was about 300 metres long and was discovered in the Dera Baba Nanak area of Gurdaspur district.

It originated about 30 metres inside the Pakistani territory. The earlier two originated from inside the Indian territory on the far side of the fence.

Rammohan said a BSF patrol noticed a gaping hole in the ground in the Dera Baba Nanak area and pushed a stick inside it. The stick showed a deep tunnel inside.

There were about three air vents in the tunnel. He said it was easy to dig tunnels in the area because of the sandy soil which is also not good for cultivation.

The area is also covered by a dense growth of sarkanada (elephant grass) which makes detection difficult.

A senior BSF official said the terrain over the tunnel is covered with a thick growth of elephant grass extending about nine feet in height.

When asked whether Pakistani officials were suspected to be involved in digging the tunnel, the official said the tunnel would have taken sometime and it would not have been possible to dig it without the knowledge and permission of the Pakistani Rangers.

He said the matter had been taken up locally and the BSF had lodged a strong protest with the Pakistani authorities.

UNI

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