SRINAGAR: Massive search operation continued in the Machil woods near the Line of Control (LoC) in the frontier district Kupwara, where so far one militant and a soldier were killed and four armymen were injured in a fierce encounter on June 14.
Defence ministry spokesman Colonel N N Joshi told UNI that operation against the militants was going on and so far no fresh contact was established.
Despite very dense forest with narrow mountain ridge, troops were moving ahead from all directions towards the area to corner militants, he said adding during the past 24 hours there was however, no fresh contact with militants.
The operation at Jetgali in Machil, within the five km curfew zone on LoC ensued after alert troops noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) on June 14. However, when challenged and asked to surrender in the dense woods, militants opened fire with automatic weapons.
Additional troops were rushed from nearby posts and entire forest area was sealed to foil any militant attempt to escape, they said adding since it is very vast dense forest troops have started forward from all sides to corner the holed up militants.
According to intelligence inputs more than 200 militants are currently ready to infiltrate at nearly 30 launch pads in PoK.
However, troops guarding the LoC are already on high alert, equipped with latest equipments, including night vision binoculars, goggles and cameras to foil infiltration attempts.
Sources said that about 20 militants have infiltrated across the LoC till April this year. However, majority of them have been killed on the LoC by the troops. (AGENCIES)
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