Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Feb 21: At least two Pakistani soldiers were killed as Indo-Pak troops traded heavy firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tanghdar area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district this evening.
Sources said that Army foiled a Border Action Team (BAT) strike of Pakistani troops in Tarr area of Tanghdar along the LoC this evening at around 4 p.m. They said that as the BAT tried to cross the LoC, they were targeted by the Army that was alert since yesterday and forced them to flee.
They said that no damage was done in the foiling of the BAT strike as troops were anticipating it. Soon after the foiling of the BAT action, Army targeted the Pakistani posts in the area. They fired rockets and mortars at Pakistani posts. Sources said that at least two Pakistani border guards were killed after their post was hit in the area.
An official said that Pakistani troops also targeted the Indian posts in the area but there was no damage. The heavy firing in the area continued till 8 p.m. and it has stopped now.
The official described the situation as tense and Army has intensified its vigil along the LoC in the sector and have started patrolling in the nearby forest area to foil any infiltration bid.
This is the same area where a Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was killed in Pakistani sniping from across the LoC yesterday. The soldier, Sunil Kumar Murmu, was deployed at a forward location along the LoC in the area, when a Pakistani sniper shot hit him in the abdomen. The soldier was removed to hospital and later he was evacuated to Army 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar by an Army chopper. He succumbed to injuries at the hospital tonight.
Army had intensified its vigil in the area along the LoC soon after the Pakistani sniping.
In the meantime, troops along LoC in Uri sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district are on high alert after Indo-Pak troops exchanged fire two days ago.
Pakistani troops had violated ceasefire and targeted Army posts in Churanda village in which a woman was injured.
The villagers are terror stricken in the area and Army has also intensified its vigil and patrols along the LoC in the sector to counter any “misadventure” from Pakistani troops.
In the meantime, security forces conducted searches at a few places in and on the outskirts of Srinagar after reports of presence of militants in the area.
Security forces conducted searches in Machu and Nowgam areas in the Southern outskirts of Srinagar. They also conducted searches in Northern outskirts of Srinagar in Buchwara area and Gulberg colony. However, no one was arrested.
Security forces also conducted searches in Balgarden area of Srinagar. Residents said that for last few days, the security forces are continuously conducting searches in the area.
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