Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Jan 15: In a major success for the troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector of North Kashmir, five heavily armed militants of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), who were crossing the river Jhelum to carry out Fidayeen attack in the area, were shot dead early today. Click here to watch video
Sources said that Army was alert in the area for last two weeks after intelligence inputs about a possible Fidayeen attack in Uri near the LoC by the JeM. They said that the Army was particularly alert since last evening as they had inputs of infiltration by heavily armed JeM group in Par Dulanga area of Uri near Uroosa near Bhim Post.
Sources said that at around 1 a.m, Army saw movement from across in Pakistani village Udham on the banks of river Jhelum. They said that Army waited for the group of Fidayeen to cross over and as four of them crossed in a boat, Army challenged them. One who was rowing the boat crossed over to the other side, while four others took shelter under the culvert and were shot dead by the Army. The other one was shot dead on the Pakistani side of the river Jhelum near the boat. Three of their accomplices, who were on the other side, ran away as Army engaged the group.
Army, in the morning, recovered four dead bodies during the searches and they also saw the fifth body lying near the boat on the other side of river Jhelum. They also recovered four AK-47 rifles, 19 AK-47 magazines, 480 AK-47 rounds, 3 UBGLs, 38 UBGL grenades, 23 hand grenades, nine IEDs, 4 pouches, four life jackets, 23 Chinese grenades, batteries and four wrist watches.
Sources said that, as per the intelligence inputs, the group was tasked to carry out Fidayeen attack on any army installations near the LoC in Uri.
The Commander of Uri based 12 Brigade of Army, Brigadier YS Ahlawat, told a news conference here that army averted a major tragedy by eliminating five Fidayeen.
“A major tragedy has been averted on Army day and ahead of Republic Day by foiling the Fidayeen attack. The infiltration bid was made on intervening night of 14th and 15th January along river Jhelum. Alert troops picked up the movement as the terrorists were moving along the banks of Jhelum and subsequently we tracked their movement as they were crossing the river in a boat”, the Brigadier said.
The Brigade Commander said that the group was challenged by troops leading to a fire fight in which five Fidayeen were killed. “In the ensuing fire fight, the Indian Army has neutralized five terrorists in this operation. In the search operations launched in the morning, four bodies of terrorists were found. The fifth body is lying on the other side of the river, near the boat which they used for crossing over”, he said.
Brigadier YS Ahlawat said that large cache of arms and ammunition has been recovered. “Of these there are 4 AK-47 rifles, 3 UBGLs and 38 UBGL grenades, about 23 hand grenades, nine IEDs and many such war like items were recovered from these terrorists. This is the first infiltration bid of 2018 which has been successfully eliminated. The Indian Army continues its resolve to maintain strict vigil along the LoC and foil such nefarious designs of Pakistan in future”, he said.
Sources said that the operation was carried out jointly by Army’s 4-Madras, 88 RR, Baramulla Police and 53 battalion of CRPF.
In the meantime, Police today busted a network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) who were actively involved in radicalizing and motivating the youth to join militant ranks and to send them across LoC and South Kashmir for obtaining arms training.
SSP Kupwara, Shamsheer Hussain, said that on a tip off, police arrested four OGWs identified as Rashid Bashir Pir son of Bashir Ahmad Pir of Kunan Poshpora, Zakir Amin Pir son of Mohammad Amin Pir of Alaichizeb, Saif-ud-din Khatana son of Maher Din Khatana of Wogbal and Manzoor Ahmad Najar son of Mohammad Sultan Najar of Krishipora Nagri Kupwara.
He said that two youth have also been rescued who were radicalized and motivated to join the militant ranks.
The SSP said that during last one year due to timely action and strenuous efforts made by District Police Kupwara so far 17 youth have been rescued, who were radicalized and motivated to join the militant ranks from areas close to LoC.
“After proper counseling, all the rescued youth have been handed over to their parents. All the OGWs who were involved in motivating the youth for joining the militant ranks have been booked. Four top OGWs have also been booked under PSA recently”, Hussain said.
District Police Kupwara has also appealed the parents of the educated youth in particular and society in general to foil the nefarious designs of such anti-national/anti-social elements who are hell bent to push the educated youth of the area into militancy cadres, so that their lives and future can be secured.
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