SRINAGAR : Alert troops foiled yet another major infiltration bid from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) when they gunned down five heavily-armed militants immediately after they sneak into this side in Tangdhar sector in north Kashmir early this morning.
With this a total of 23 infiltrators were killed by the security forces on Line of Control (LoC) during the past three months.
This was however, second major success for troops in the Kashmir valley during the past 24 hours.
Yesterday. Five Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants were killed by Army and state police in a joint operation at Kangan in central Kashmir district of Ganderbl.
Defence Ministry spokesman Naresh Vij said. “that troops, who are on high alert, noticed a group of militants sneaking into this side from PoK early in the morning under the cover of darkness.
However, when challenged and asked to surrender at a particular place on this side of the LoC, militants resorted to indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons and also hurled grenades.
Troops, who had already taken safe positions, also retaliated ensuing an encounter in the woods.
Two bodies were found at a place and later three more bodies were recovered at another place in the forest during the searches with first light.
Mr Vij said, “a massive search operation has been launched in the
entire forest area to make sure that there is no militant left in the woods.
Since the searches had been launched from different directions,
it will take time to conclude the operation in the area.
Infiltration from across the border has increased during the past
three months as militants, waiting in launch pads, are making desperate
attempts to sneak into this side before the upper heights receive
first snowfall.
A senior Army officer recently said a large number of trained
militants are waiting across the border to sneak into this side before
the infiltration routes are closed.
However, troops guarding the border are already on high alert
and have intensified foot and night patrolling to foil any infiltration
attempt.
This was the first infiltration attempt by militants from POK
after GOC-in-C, Northern Command Lt General Sajib Chachra reviewed
operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) alongwith
Lt Gen Gurmit Singh, Chinar Corps Commander on August 27.
Lt General Chachra was briefed by the field commanders about
the measures taken to foil the infiltration attempts from across the LoC.
(AGENCIES)
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