Army foils infiltration bid in Keran; 3 militants killed

Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR: Army today foiled a major infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Keran sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district and killed militants.
Reports said that army noticed the movement of 5-6 militants near Gail Gali post in Keran sector of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district last night. They were challenged by the troops deployed along the LoC leading to a fierce gun battle in which three militants were killed. The rest of the members of the group fled under the cover of darkness and dense foliage.
Army conducted searches in the dawn and recovered three bodies of militants and arms and ammunition. The recovered arms and ammunition include three AK 47 Rifles, one UBGL, 12 AK Magazines, 300 rounds of AK 47, eight grenades and other warlike stores.
Army conducted the searches of the forest area in Keran to ensure that no militant group has managed to infiltrate.
This is the seventh infiltration bid that was foiled this year by army along LoC in Kashmir in which 15 infiltrators were killed. Army also lost three men in its fight against the infiltrators on the LoC this year.
Last year army killed 59 militants along the LOC which is highest so far in past over a decade.
Army says over 200 heavily armed militants are waiting across the LoC for infiltration and army has stepped up vigil so as to prevent them from infiltrating.
A Srinagar-based defence spokesman said here that an attempt of infiltration by heavily armed terrorists in Keran Sector of frontier Kupwara Division was eliminated on the night of 11/12 July by the vigilant Army personnel deployed along the Line of Control resulting into killing of three terrorists and recovery of weapons and warlike stores. The bodies of three militants have been recovered, however, identification and affiliated tanzeem is yet to be carried out.
The spokesman said: “A group of terrorists were spotted moving from PoK to wards Line of Control at midnight of 11/12 July. The robust counter infiltration grid in place immediately picked up the terrorists and kept then under constant surveillance till they reached the LC Fencing. The terrorists moved towards the LC Fencing and attempted to cut the fencing and cross over. The terrorists were then effectively engaged by the vigilant soldiers deployed along the Line of Control. An intense gunfight ensued which resulted in elimination of three terrorists. Search of the area, undertaken at the break of the dawn on 12 July, resulted in recovery of three bodies of the slain terrorists along with three AK 47 Rifles, one UBGL, 12 AK Magazines, 300 rounds of AK 47, eight grenades and other warlike stores.”
“Lt General Subrata Saha, GOC Chinar Corps, commended the officers and soldiers for their vigil, alertness and determination leading to successful elimination of three terrorists attempting to infiltrate across the Line of Control”, the spokesman added.