Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: Army today foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district by killing three militants.
An Army spokesman said here that the troops noticed movement of about six infiltrators near Ghoda gap on the LoC in Indian Territory in Keran sector of Kupwara district at around 3:30 a.m. He said that the alert troops on the LoC challenged the infiltrators.
“After being challenged the infiltrators opened fire and Army returned the fire leading to heavy gun fight in which two militants were killed”, the Army spokesman said.
However, Army sources said that one more militant was killed but his body could not be retrieved or it might have been dragged by his colleagues, who fled to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the cover of darkness.
Sources said that one militant was also injured in the encounter and he also fled back under the cover of darkness in injured condition.
Sources said that four AK-47 rifles, 2 pistols and haversacks, pouches and some war like stores were recovered during the search of the area. Two bodies of the militants were also recovered during the searches.
This is the first infiltration bid that was foiled after the killing of 5 soldiers in Poonch sector on August 6 by Lashkar-e-Toiba with the support of Pakistani Army. The killings led to tension along the LoC and skirmishes.
Last month on July 9, 5 militants were killed in Keran sector when troops spotted a group of six militants who were trying to sneak in. Troops fired at them and killed them near the Pakistani posts. However, the Army couldn’t retrieve their bodies as they were lying near the Pakistani posts and mine fields but Hizbul Mujahideen later confirmed that the militants who were killed belonged to the outfit.
Two militants were also killed in Shalabato area of Keran sector last month when a group of infiltrators was challenged by the Army on the LoC. So far 11 militants were gunned down in Keran sector of Kupwara in three infiltration attempts.
It may be mentioned here that as per Army, 350 militants waiting on the launching pads on the other side of the LoC in Tangdhar,Keran, Machail and Gurez sectors. The Army says that the militants are desperate to infiltrate into Kashmir as their numbers have declined during past few years due to successful operations by the security forces in Kashmir valley.
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