Army launches massive searches in Nowgam sector

Fayaz Bukhari

Army patrolling in Kanyan bowl where Pakistani troops violated ceasefire and fired at Indian posts. —Excelsior/Aabid Nabi

Srinagar, May 25: Army launched a massive search operation in Nowgam sector this morning to make it sure that no militant has infiltrated into the dense forest area under the cover of firing by Pakistani troops on Indian posts since last evening.
An Army officer said that the intermittent firing between Indian and Pakistani troops continued till this morning in Nowgam sector of North Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) after ceasefire violation by Pakistan last evening.
Brigadier Sanjeev Langeh who commands TMG brigade was held up in the forward post in Kanyan bowl at Northern end of the Lippa Valley for the night. He along with 2 Army personnel received minor injuries last evening. Since the Kanyan bowl is in the firing range of Pakistani troops so the Brigadier came out of the bowl to his headquarter early morning after the firing stopped.
General Officer Commanding Baramulla based Dagger Division; Major General V G Khandare visited the TMG sector and met Brigadier Sanjeev Langeh and other officers to take stock of the situation along the LoC.
The GOC told Excelsior that it was a superficial injury and Brigadier is at the post commanding his Brigade. “I met him in the morning and he is fine and at the post”, he added.
The GOC said that Pakistani troops fired at Indian posts in TMG sector and it was responded. He said that such kind of incidents at the LoC does take place and the Army gives appropriate reply at appropriate time.
The General said that the borders are safe and “there is nothing to worry about”. He said that Army has intensified its vigil along the LoC to prevent infiltration of militants into Kashmir valley.
An Army officer while giving details said here that the ceasefire violation took place last evening at Kayan bowl in Tootmari Gali (TMG) in Nowgam sector of North Kashmir when Pakistani troops fired at Indian positions without any provocation.
The officer said that firing by Pakistani troops continued till 3 a.m. today and after a lull of two hours it resumed at 5 a.m. The firing continued till 7 a.m. “The Indian Army also responded to the Pakistani firing”, the officer said.
He added that the main reason behind the ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops is to give cover to militants across the LoC to help them in infiltrating into Kashmir valley. He said that large numbers of militants are waiting on the LoC in Neelam valley for infiltration and Pakistani troops gave them cover.
It may be mentioned here that yesterday Pakistani troops also fired at Indian posts in Tanghdar sector of Kupwara. However, it was a localised firing on few posts in South Tangdar sector which lasted for about half an hour.