Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: Troops observed a major infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) along Yunus Nullah in Hamirpur area of Balakote in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in wee hours of this morning with reliable reports indicating that 3 to 4 militants had managed to sneak into this side after exchange of heavy firing with the Army for about four hours.
Top Army officials including 120 BG Brigade Commander Brigadier MV Suchitra Kumar, 13 Sector Deputy Commandant and senior officers of 22 Rajput Rifles and 49 Rashtriya Rifles were camping at the spot while a `Ghatak’ team of Army was conducting searches in forest areas of Abbas, Dabbi and Balakote, which also borders Manjakote area of Rajouri district, in search of militants if they had managed to infiltrate into this side.
However, Army spokesman SN Acharya, in a handout issued here maintained that the intruders probably retreated taking advantage of darkness, thick vegetation and folds of the ground. The handout didn’t mention the often used words that the infiltration attempt has been foiled.
Official sources said troops of 22 Rajput Rifles and 49 Rashtriya Rifles observed movement of 4 to 5 infiltrators about 100 to 200 meters inside the Indian territory trying to cut fencing in white dress at 2 am today. The alert troops challenged the intruders and asked them to surrender.
However, the militants opened heavy firing on the Army personnel, who retaliated. A heavy exchange of firing between the two sides continued till 6 am. With the onset of dawn, the Army personnel carried out massive searches in the area but there was no firing after 6 am. No further contact was established with the ultras till late this evening.
Reliable reports and Intelligence inputs revealed that a Pakistani guide Iksaar Ahmad of Muradpur in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) was accompanying the infiltrators and he managed to retrieve. Though the Army spokesman maintained that the militants also retreated to Pakistan, there were reports that a group of three to four militants might have managed to sneak into the forest areas of Abbas, Dabbi and Balakote.
Army conducted massive searches in the forests during the day. Police have also cordoned off the areas inside the Indian territory to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to enter further inside if they had managed to sneak into the forest area.
Sources confirmed that the militants hadn’t been able to cut the fencing, which was found intact along the LoC during searches conducted this morning. However, the infiltrators sometimes used blankets to sneak into this side between the fencing without cutting it.
During past one year, there had been no successful infiltration attempt on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
Sources said even if the militants had managed to sneak into the forests, they would be trapped and killed but the possibility was that they might have retreated after firing by the troops.
Worthwhile to mention here that a Pakistan Army jawan had entered about 200 meters inside the Indian territory at Lam area of Nowshera sector and was gunned down on Thursday. His body was handed over to Pakistani troops in the same sector the next day.
On Thursday night, Pakistan Army had opened firing in Krishna Ghati sector and violated ceasefire but there were no casualties or damage on the Indian side.
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