Army foils major infiltration bid
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Five militants were killed and 5 soldiers martyred in a gunfight as Army foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara forests of North Kashmir today.
Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said that the slain militants were infiltrators and the operation was still going on.
“In ongoing anti-infiltration operation in Keran sector of north Kashmir, alert troops braving inclement weather and hostile terrain have so far eliminated five militants attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control (LoC) taking advantage of bad weather. In the gun fight three of our soldiers have been martyred,” Kalia said.
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He added that despite inclement weather in the area, army has evacuated casualties from the area. “Despite prevailing inclement weather conditions, casualties have been evacuated. Unfortunately two more soldiers succumbed to their injuries, others are presently undergoing treatment. Total five soldiers martyred. Operation is in progress”, the spokesman said.
The martyred soldiers have been identified as Subedar Sanjeev Kumar of Himachal Pradesh, Haveldar Davendra Singh of Uttarakhand, Para trooper Bal Krishan of Himachal Pradesh, Para Trooper Amit Kumar of Uttarakhand and Chhatrapal Singh of Rajasthan.
The group of militants infiltrated during the night intervening March 30 and 31 and security forces had already information about the group trying to infiltrate so they were alert. On April 1, army intercepted the group and challenged them, leading to a gun battle. However, they fled from the area due to density of the forest area and inclement weather as it was snowing there.
The group was initially intercepted by 8 JAT regiment of army which is deployed on LoC in the area. As the group fled from the area, Army rushed elite para troopers to Rangdoori, Guguldara and Teen Behak area of Jumgund to trace out the militants.
The troops launched massive operation in the area to track the militant group. Yesterday the militant group was again intercepted by the Army in Rangdori Behak area near the LoC.
The Army challenged the heavily armed militant group leading to a fierce gun battle which continued till today morning. Five militants were killed in the encounter. Army has recovered huge cache of arm and ammunition from the encounter site.
The security forces had closed all the exit points of the forest area and launched searches against them in Awaoora, Kumkadi, Zurhuma, Safawali, Batpora and Haihama areas. Army’ 41 RR, 57 RR, 160 TA and SOG Kupwara were involved in these searches.
This is the first major infiltration bid foiled by the Army along the LoC in Kupwara sector this year.
This is a major success for the security forces as during last 24 hours they have killed 9 militants. It may be mentioned here that 4 militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter in Kulgam area of South Kashmir yesterday. Police said that these militants were involved in the recent killing of civilians in South Kashmir.
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