jammu border
jammu borderReuters

The Border Security Force (BSF) detected a tunnel in the RS Pura sector of the Jammu district Thursday. BSF Inspector General Rakesh Sharma reportedly said Friday the tunnel appeared to have been dug to infiltrate militants for a big terrorist attack in India.

The border forces found the 30-metre-long tunnel from Pakistan to the Indian side near BSF post of Allah Mai Di Kothi along the International Border. The BSF has requested the Pakistani Rangers to assist India with the investigation and necessary action.

"It appears that a big terrorist attack was being planned after infiltration through this tunnel," ANI quoted Sharma as saying.

"We have contacted the Pakistan Rangers and brought it to their notice. We will present them proof and evidence. We have requested Pakistan Rangers to come forward for investigation. They said they would take care and take action," he said.

The tunnel, dug 10 feet below the ground using a machine, was blocked on the Indian side of the border and detected when the BSF started clearing the grass in that area, Press Trust of India quoted Sharma as saying. He added that Pakistan was trying to infiltrate "fidayeen" and other militants inside India.

"We were carrying out our regular clearing operations, done monthly, when we found a well-constructed tunnel. But it was blocked on our side. It was a dead end. It had no exit as they could not complete it further. It came close to the border fencing," PTI quoted the IG as saying.

"Pakistan was objecting to our efforts to clear grass as it was anticipating that the BSF would be able to detect the tunnel. We resisted Pakistan's attempts and went ahead with the clearing operation during which the tunnel was found," he said.

"One person can sit and easily move inside the tunnel, which has came up in the vicinity of the Allah-Mai-Di-Kothi BoP of ours from the Pakistan Post of Afzal," Sharma added.

This is the fourth tunnel detected in Jammu & Kashmir in the last four years.

The BSF had found a 400-metre-long tunnel along the International Border in July 2012 in the Samba sector. Another tunnel was discovered in the Chillyari border belt in the Samba district. It was 23 metres inside the Indian territory, according to PTI.

A third tunnel of about 130 to 150 metres in length was detected in Pallanwala sector along the Line of Control in August 2014.