Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Nov 9:Army today foiled a major infiltration bid by eliminating 4 heavily armed militants in Keran sector of the frontier district of Kupwara in North Kashmir while two infiltrators managed to flee back to the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in injured condition.
A senior Army officer told Excelsior that troops deployed on Balbir Post near Hanuman Top in Shamsabari mountains noticed movement of 6-7 heavily armed militants near the LoC last evening. He said that Kumaon regiment of the Army launched an operation and intercepted the group at around 1:30 a.m. near the LoC.
The Army officer said 4 heavily armed infiltrators were killed in the encounter inside the Indian territory as they had managed to come around 200 meters inside the LoC. Two of their colleagues were badly injured in the encounter, but they managed to flee towards the LoC. They were chased but they managed to cross the LoC and fled back to the PoK.
The officer said that during the searches of the area four bodies of the militants and 5 AK Rifles were recovered. He said besides this huge quantity of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the encounter site.
The Army officer said search operation was called off in the evening after troops found trail of blood leading towards the LoC and no signs of the rest of the two militants inside Indian territory near the LoC.
Army said that this was one of the clean operations against the infiltrators in which no damage was caused to the troops.
The Army is on high alert along the LoC as the militants are making desperate attempts to infiltrate into Kashmir valley ahead of winter. This is the first infiltration bid that was foiled by the Army on the LoC this month and second during past 10 days.
On October 31, Army in Haipeer sector of Uri foiled an infiltration bid by two militants. These militants had come some 400 meters inside the LoC after they were intercepted by the Army. They were fired at and they managed to flee back to PoK in injured condition where they succumbed and were buried by locals across the LoC next day.
The infiltration this year has increased after security forces eliminated top militant leadership in Kashmir valley during past one year, forcing the militant leaders across in PoK to push in more militants especially commanders.
There are conflicting reports about the number of militants who have infiltrated into Kashmir this year. However, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Om Prakash, said last week around 40 militants have infiltrated into Kashmir this year despite tight vigil along LoC. He said that they too will be eliminated soon.
Army said that there are around 500-600 militants waiting across the LoC in Pok to infiltrate into Kashmir for past one year. “The tight vigil along the LoC and border fence has made their efforts difficult”, they added.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Baramulla based 19-Divison of the Army, Major General Bipin Rawat, said yesterday that Pakistani troops are violating ceasefire in Hajipeer sector of Uri to divert attention of the Army so as to help militants to infiltrate from other areas.
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