Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 6: Army foiled a major infiltration attempt by the militants on the Line of Control (LoC) in forward area of Peeli in Mendhar sector late last night even as Pakistani troops again violated ceasefire agreement by giving covering fire to the infiltrators.
Army spokesman Col Manish Mehta said Pakistan Army violated ceasefire at 11.30 pm last night by resorting to firing with automatic weapons.
“Our troops retaliated with similar caliber weapons. No damage or casualties were reported on the India side,’’ Col Mehta said.
Official sources said a group of three to four militants tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory from forward area of Peeli in Mendhar sector of Poonch district at 11.30 pm late last night. As the militants reached close to the LoC, Pakistan Army resorted to firing from their posts in Dabsi Forward area targeting Indian posts and give covering fire to the infiltrating militants.
The Indian side replied the firing. The exchange of firing lasted few minutes. Unable to find a safe route to infiltrate, the militants, who were equipped with heavy weaponry including explosive devices, retreated, sources said, adding the weather was cloudy and foggy when the militants made the infiltration attempt.
However, the alert troops spotted movement of the militants through the Night Vision Devices (NVDs) and opened firing aiming the direction the militants were taking to intrude into this side forcing the militants to flee back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from where they had been launched into this side.
In the morning, Army conducted searches along the LoC in Mendhar sector to ensure that the militants didn’t manage to infiltrate. The searches, however, revealed that the militants had failed in their plot.
This was fifth infiltration attempt and ceasefire violation along the LoC in twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri in the past less than a fortnight. Previous infiltration attempts were made in Deri Dabsi, Shahpur Kirni, Sabjian and Manjakote sectors in the two border districts.
Troops have been maintaining a very high alert along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch district following reports that the militants could make more such infiltration attempts in the coming days as snow has completely melted after bright sunshine during past few days.
There had been reports with the Intelligence agencies that a number of militants have been camping across the LoC opposite Rajouri and Poonch districts awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side but were finding it impossible to sneak-in due to strict vigil being maintained by the troops.
“All infiltration attempts made by the militants along the LoC this year have been foiled so far,’’ sources said, adding the troops were determined not to allow the militants to succeed in their nefarious designs to infiltrate and revive the dying militancy in Jammu region.
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