Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 1: Army is conducting massive operations over the past two weeks in the forests near the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir after inputs that few militant groups have managed to infiltrate into the area.
There are inputs with the Army that atleast two militant groups, one consisting of 9 militants and another of 6 militants have infiltrated from Maidan forests in Kamalkote sector of the Uri in North Kashmir last month taking advantage of freak weather conditions.
Army over the two weeks has been conducting massive searches in the Kamalkote sector in Uri in the forest area but so far they have found no traces of any infiltration from this sector.
It is the same place where from six militants infiltrated last year during Assembly elections and attacked Mohra Army camp in Uri killing 11 security forces personnel including 8 Army men. They had infiltrated on intervening night of December 3 and 4 and hid in the forests before carrying out attack during the intervening night of December 4 and 5.
Since the group was not detected before they struck Mohra Army camp, Army is not taking the inputs lightly. They have fanned out the forests in the area and looking for any signs of these suspected infiltrated militants. Sources said that Army will continue the searches to see if the groups have really infiltrated or not.
Similarly, Army conducted massive searches in Gurez sector of the North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after inputs about infiltration of a group of militants from the snow bound rugged mountains. But searches that lasted for over a week found no signs of any infiltration or any foot marks on the snow.
Army sources said that there is lot of activity of infiltrators taking place near the LoC on Pakistan side. “Militants come near the LoC and conduct recci but they don’t come near the fence for cross over as they find it difficult due to strong counter-infiltration grid at place”, they said.
A senior Army officer said that around 150 militants are on launch pads along the LoC in Kashmir and they are trying to take advantage of snow and damage caused to the fence due to recent rains. “However, Army is ready for foiling any attempt as we are alert”, he said.
As per the security agency figures, last year 65 militants managed to infiltrate into Kashmir but this year, Army has further strengthened the counter-infiltration grid to make infiltration more difficult.
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