Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: Security agencies have observed movement of 20 to 25 militants across Balnoi and Balakote in Mendhar sector of Poonch district, who were fully geared up to intrude into this side of the Line of Control (LoC).
The group reportedly belonged to Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit.
Official sources told the Excelsior that movement of the militants on PoK side of the LoC was being observed for the past three to four days. The militants were equipped with heavy weaponry and were reportedly planning to infiltrate into the Indian side.
“For the past quite some time, there had been no movement of the militants across the LoC in Mendhar sector though a number of militants were present in PoK. The militants had shifted from the LoC to their camps as they were not finding any opportunity of infiltration into Jammu and Kashmir,” they said, adding it was during the last few days that about 20 to 25 militants have again surfaced across the LoC opposite Balnoi and Balakote forward areas of Mendhar sector.
Sources, however, said that security forces were already maintaining a high alert along the LoC in view of Parliament elections in the State as there were specific inputs that the militants were determined to infiltrate into this side of the LoC to create disturbances ahead of the polls.
“All infiltration attempts made by the militants this year so far have been foiled by the troops on the LoC in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch,” sources said but added that the militants too appeared determined to make fresh infiltration attempts.
Sources said security forces were anticipating some intrusion bids on the LoC not only in Mendhar sector but other parts of Rajouri and Poonch districts also ahead of the Parliament elections. They maintained that there was no surprise in the reports that militants have been spotted across the LoC in Balnoi and Balakote as this was bound to happen once the winter is over and the elections were nearing.
Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha seat would go to polls on April 10 and Udhampur-Doda on April 17.
Only a couple of days back, security forces had arrested a Hizbul Mujahideen command Mohammad Azeem at Digwar sector on the LoC in Poonch district along with arms and ammunition. Azeem was a resident of Fatehpur, Rajouri and had sneaked into this side with a view to carry out a terror attack.
Sources said security agencies have reports that two to three more militants had tried to cross over to this side of the LoC along with Azeem but failed and retreated to PoK. They could try to enter into this side once again. Security forces were maintaining high alert for them.
It may be mentioned here that only on March 28 three foreign terrorists had struck at Tarnah bridge on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway killing a civilian and injuring three others and then opened firing near an Army camp at Janglote in Kathua killing an Army jawan. Driver of a Bolero hijacked by the militants was also killed.
Army had eliminated all three fidayeens in about 12 hours long encounter.
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