Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 29: In a major offensive Special Forces of Army today targeted Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector inflicting casualties on them and the attack led to the cancellation of weekly Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service.
Sources said that para-commandos of the Army took positions near the LoC on a hill overlooking Chakoti-Muzaffarabad road in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and targeted a Pakistani troop convoy early in the morning.
Sources said that there were three vehicles in the convoy on Chakoti Muzaffarabad road and they were targeted by the para commandos inflicting casualties on them. They said that the attack led to the killing of two Pakistani troops and injuries to at least four of them.
They said that it was a pre-emptive move by the Army as Pakistani troops have been attempting Border Action Team (BAT) strikes in the area besides infiltrating militants.
Earlier, last week Army said that they killed two members of the BAT strike team in the area. However, sources said that those killed were Pakistani guides who were facilitating infiltration of a group of six militants. When challenged the militants fled back to PoK and the two guides were killed.
The attack on Pakistani troops led to the cancellation of weekly Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service. The bus left Srinagar early in the morning with 14 passengers of PoK, who were returning home and 4 passengers from Kashmir, who were on their way to visit relatives.
The bus reached Aman Setu in the morning and the passengers were waiting for cross over but the Pakistani troops refused to open the gate. The passengers were waiting at the LoC for cross over till evening but had to return to Srinagar later.
Army for last few months has taken offensive posture along the LoC to prevent infiltration of militants into Kashmir. They killed 19 militants along the LoC this year with 11 in Uri and Rampur sectors only. However, as per the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) figures, 19 militants sneaked into Kashmir this year.
The entire LoC in Kashmir is tense after increased attempts of infiltration. Army said that 250 militants are waiting on the launch pads along the LoC for infiltration but Army has intensified vigil and patrolling to prevent their cross over.
In the meantime, an Army jawan of 17 JAT Nitin Kumar was killed when he stepped on a mine in Mike post area of Uri this morning. The jawan was on regular patrol when the incident took place.
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