Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 20: Army today foiled an infiltration bid in Macchil sector near the Line of Control (LoC), killing three militants who were trying to cross into Kashmir.
The Army spotted 3-4 militants who were trying to cross the fence near the LoC in Jalandari post area near Sardari Nar during the night.
A Defence spokesman said here that the troops deployed along the LoC in the Macchil sector observed the movement of a group of militants along the fence early today. “The counter infiltration grid was reinforced while the terrorists were kept under constant surveillance till they crossed the LoC Fencing”, he said.
The spokesman said that they were challenged leading to fierce gun battle in which one militant was eliminated. “Body of the slain terrorist was recovered from the site along with one AK 47 rifle, ammunition and other warlike stores”, he said.
The spokesman said that the identity and group affiliation of the slain militant is yet to be ascertained. “Reinforcements have been rushed to the area and a search operation was going on to track down other members of the infiltrating group”, he added.
Reports said that two more militants who infiltrated were eliminated in the gun battle, however, their bodies were not recovered yet.
The Army has launched massive searches in the areas for the one militant who they feel is still inside the forest area.
Today’s infiltration bid is fifth attempt by the militants that was foiled along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara sector this year in which 11 militants and 2 Army personnel were killed and one Army officer was injured.
Early this month on June 6, three militants were killed near the LoC in Toot Mari Gali sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Army noticed movement of a group of 5-6 militants near Atma post approaching near the fence. They were challenged and three of them were killed and others managed to escape under the cover of darkness.
On June 7, Army foiled an infiltration bid in Keran sector on the LoC, in the frontier district of Kupwara, however, militants managed to flee back under the cover of darkness.
Earlier, 5 militants were killed in Tanghdar sector in two separate infiltration attempts in which two Army personnel also lost their lives and an Army officer was injured.
Last year Army killed 59 militants along the LoC which is highest so far in past over a decade.
Army said that 200 militants are waiting on the launch pads along the LoC to cross into Kashmir valley. However, Army is alert and there is a strong counter-infiltration grid in place.
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