Jammu: Security forces strengthened vigilance along the Line of Control (LoC) on Sunday as the Army apprehended four persons in two separate incidents in Uri sector of north Kashmir, including a Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) youth who allegedly crossed the border to meet a woman he befriended on social media.
The developments came even as the Army rolled out an Aadhaar-based digital entry and exit system at LoC gates in Poonch district to facilitate smoother movement of border residents while maintaining strict security checks.
In the first incident, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police foiled an alleged exfiltration bid in Uri after receiving specific intelligence inputs.
The Srinagar-based Chinar Corps said two individuals from Sopore, along with their guide, were intercepted while attempting to cross the LoC.
The apprehended persons were identified as Adil Hussain, Ishfaq Lone and Jaffar Hafiz. Security agencies have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the purpose of the attempted crossing and examine possible links and motives behind the move.
In a separate incident in the same sector, Army troops intercepted and detained Zeeshan Mir, a 22-year-old resident of Muzaffarabad in PoK, while he was crossing the heavily guarded LoC.
According to officials, Mir told investigators that he had crossed into Jammu and Kashmir to meet a woman from Tulwari village in Uri whom he had met through Snapchat. The online friendship reportedly developed into a close emotional relationship over time.
Officials said Mir was facing family and financial pressures in Muzaffarabad and had fallen into depression amid persistent domestic disputes.
During conversations with the woman, identified as Irum Bano, he allegedly discussed plans of leaving PoK and settling permanently in Jammu and Kashmir.
Investigators said Mir claimed that his ancestors originally belonged to the same border village where the woman resides. Encouraged by their shared roots and relationship, the two allegedly devised a plan under which Mir would cross the LoC, surrender before Indian authorities, serve any sentence arising from illegal entry and later seek to reclaim ancestral property in the area.
Acting on the plan, Mir crossed the LoC on Saturday night but was intercepted by alert Army personnel before reaching his destination.
Following his detention, the woman was summoned by authorities to verify the claims made by Mir. Officials said she appealed to the Army and civil authorities to allow him to remain in Jammu and Kashmir rather than being deported.
Security agencies, however, are treating the matter with caution and are investigating all aspects of the case, including the possibility of external influence or any covert agenda.
Officials stressed that all claims made by the youth are being thoroughly verified before any legal decision is taken.
The Chinar Corps said troops exercised maximum restraint while apprehending the intruder and subsequently handed him over to Jammu and Kashmir Police for further legal proceedings.
Meanwhile, in a significant civilian-focused initiative, the Army has introduced an Aadhaar-based entry and exit system at LoC gates in Poonch district. The digital mechanism is aimed at facilitating easier movement for residents living across the border fence who require access through designated gates for farming and other permitted activities.
Officials said the new system enables quick and secure identification of individuals, reducing waiting time and improving efficiency while ensuring stringent security measures remain in place.
The twin Uri incidents and the rollout of the digital gate system highlight the Army’s dual strategy of maintaining robust border security while improving convenience for civilians residing in sensitive frontier areas. Cross-LoC family ties continue to exist in several border districts of Jammu and Kashmir, but authorities maintain that any unauthorised crossing of the LoC remains a serious security matter and is subject to strict scrutiny.
