Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: At least 50 militants have managed to infiltrate into Kashmir valley from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) this summer before the fresh snowfall along over 400 kilometres long Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir today.
Sources said that these militants managed to cross the LoC, mostly in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district through Keran, Tangdhar, Macchil and Gurez sectors since July this year. They said that these militants are mostly confined to the forests where security forces have been conducting operations against them for past few months.
Sources said that last year around 90 militants had infiltrated into Kashmir and large numbers of them were eliminated by the security forces in the forests and hinterland during the operations. “However, the number of militants who have infiltrated this year is almost 90 percent less than last year. This has been possible due to strengthening of counter-infiltration grid over the years”, they said.
Sources said that despite tight vigil along the LoC, it is porous and militants manage to cross into Kashmir through rugged mountains. “The LoC can’t be completely sealed as the gaps will always remain but counter-infiltration fence has proved to be very effective against infiltration”, said sources.
There was fresh snowfall between 4-7 inches along over 400 kilometres LoC from Gulmarg to Gurez today. The heaviest snowfall of 6-7 inches was recorded in Gulmarg, Tangdhar, Macchi and Gurez sectors.
Sources said that the snowfall will hamper the militants’ attempts to infiltrate into Kashmir before the Assembly elections which are due later this year. “However, Army is keeping tight vigil as militants even try to infiltrate through snow”, they said.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt General Subrata Saha said here that 200 militants are waiting along the LoC for infiltration but strong counter-infiltration grid is preventing them from infiltration.
Sources said that the militants are desperate to infiltrate into Kashmir before the severe winter when several feet of snow accumulates along the LoC. They said that the militant commanders across the LoC want maximum infiltration but strong counter-infiltration grid has frustrated them.
An Army officer said that 10 militants were killed along the LoC since September this year while they were trying to infiltrate into Kashmir. He said that two militants were killed at Machhil on September 17 and four more militants were eliminated at Tangdhar on September 19. “One more militant was killed at Lolab on September 30 and three militants were killed in first week of October when they were trying to infiltrate into Kashmir from Tangdhar sector and 2 escaped back to PoK”, they added.
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