Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, Nov 17: The operation launched against the recently infiltrated militants in Nowgam sector of the frontier district of Kupwara has been intensified and so far Army has not been able to establish any contact with the rest of the members of the group.
General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Baramulla based 19 Division of the Army Major General Bipin Rawat told Excelsior that three militants of 5 members of the infiltrated group are still hiding near the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowgam sector.
The GOC said that Army has laid ambushes in the forests and are not making any movement in the area where it suspects that the three militants are hiding so as to avoid any casualty. It may be mentioned here that 3 Army personnel were killed and 2 injured in the area so far in this operation that has been launched on Wednesday.
The General said that Army feels that two militants are hiding at one place and the other one at the other place. He said one of the militants of the group might have died in the encounter as he was injured. “But his body has not been recovered so far”, he added.
It may be mentioned here that a major infiltration bid was foiled in Nowgam sector by Army on Wednesday. The troops had noticed movement of a group of about five heavily armed militants near the LoC, who were challenged.
Two militants and three Army personnel were killed in the encounter so far while Army recovered two AK assault rifles and large quantity of ammunition and Rs one lakh Indian currency.
However, sources said that group that infiltrated from Nowgam sector on Wednesday comprised 12 members but Army on the ground has only found movement of 5 militants, two of whom have been killed and three are still hiding there.
Army sources didn’t rule out the number of members who were launched from PoK being more but they said that Army has noticed the movement of only 5 militants who crossed the LoC.
Militants these days are making desperate attempts to infiltrate into Kashmir valley through the areas where there has been fresh snowfall recently as snow has restricted the movement of the Army in these areas to a greater extent.
On November 9, Army foiled a major infiltration bid by eliminating 4 heavily armed militants in Keran sector of the frontier district of Kupwara in North Kashmir while two infiltrators managed to flee back to the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in injured condition.
Militants are also making attempts to infiltrate from Uri sector which is less treacherous and nearest route. Militants made large number of attempts this year from Kamalkote and Hajipeer Sectors of Uri but majority of them were foiled by Army.
Army said that there are around 500-600 militants waiting across the LoC in PoK to infiltrate into Kashmir for past one year. “The tight vigil along the LoC and border fence has made their efforts difficult”, says Army.
However, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Srinagar based 15 Corps, Lt General Om Prakash, recently put this year’s infiltration figure at 40. But other agencies put the figures of this year over 100.
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