Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 27: Army today killed three militants, who were part of the group, two members of which were killed last week in a fierce gun battle in Gurez sector of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district near the Line of Control (LoC).
Srinagar based Defence spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia told Excelsior that Army foiled an infiltration bid in Gurez sector of North Kashmir’s Bandipora district today and killed three militants. He said that the operation is in progress.
Sources said that these three militants were part of the same infiltrating group, two members of which were killed on July 18 in Gurez sector of Bandipora.
They said that these militants were killed in Kanzalwan forests of Gurez near RP post along the Line of Control (LoC) during an Army operation early today.
One AK-47 rifle along with 14 magazines and one pistol along with two magazines were recovered from their possession.
It may be mentioned here that a group of six militants tried to sneak in Gurez sector of the LoC from Pakistan occupied Kashmir on July 18. Army personnel of 13-Sikh regiment noticed their movement and challenged them. They fired at the Army and in retaliation Army killed two militants. Three AK-47 rifles and ammunition were recovered during the searches of the area.
However, the other members of the group taking advantage of dense foliage managed to slip out of the Army cordon but Army continued operation against the rest members of the group and today they traced them out and killed three members in a gun battle. But the searches in the area are on so as to ensure no militant is hiding in the forest area.
Army sources said that there are over 250 militants waiting on the launch pads in PoK near the LoC and they want to sneak in summer. Army has intensified its vigil along the LoC to prevent them from infiltrating. Army is conducting round the clock patrolling along the LoC to foil the infiltration attempts of the militants.
Security forces this year achieved major successes against militants and killed 115 militants so far. Last year they had killed a record 150 militants.
Security forces said that there are 266 militants operating in Kashmir with 110 operating in South Kashmir which is worst affected by militancy. Out of these militants, nearly 100 are locals while in North Kashmir majority of the militants are Pakistanis, who have infiltrated into Kashmir by crossing the LoC.