Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, May 13: Army has intensified vigil along the Line of Control (LoC) after reports of militants using snow covered mountain passes for infiltration in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district, sources said here.
“Army was astonished when an Army patrol party encountered a group of at least six highly trained militants in Budnal forests in Chowkibal area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district on May 7”, sources said. However, the militants managed to give a slip to the Army in dense forests after a brief gun battle.
Army’s 4 para, 6/11 GR, 16 Grenadiers, 41 RR, 4 Komaon and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police were rushed in and operation was launched. Security forces are fanning the entire forest area to prevent the militant group from escaping from the cordoned area. Army also used helicopters for surveillance and air dropping of troops at vantage points inside the forests.
The operation against these militants entered 7th day today with security forces clueless about the whereabouts of these infiltrated militants. Army recovered 4 haversacks from the Budnal forests that contained dry fruits, roasted chicken and first aid. Sources said that from the recovered items it looks that the group has infiltrated from PoK a night before they had an encounter with Army. “They had taken advantage of snow covered mountain passes”, they added.
Sources said that at least 12 militants have also infiltrated from Macchil sector where the mountain passes have not opened up yet. Taking the advantage of tough terrain and heavy snow these militants managed to give slip to the Army in freak weather conditions.
Army launched operation last week after the movement of the militants was reported in the forests areas of Lolab but no traces of these militants were found as the forests are dense.
Sources also said that at least six militants might have infiltrated through Nowgam sector a day before a militant was killed in Gatyali Behak Rajwar forests on May 2 by Army. Sources said that the killed militant was part of the receiving party for the infiltrated group.
Sources said that the infiltration along the LoC in Kupwara district has taken place despite inputs to the Army that the militants might try to infiltrate from first week of May when the mountain passes are still closed with the snow.
Army along the LoC started repairing the damaged LoC fence as a pre-emptive measure in April but the groups have used snow covered mountains in freak weather to infiltrate.
The security agencies apprehend increased infiltration this year after number of militants in Kashmir valley declined following successful operations by the security forces over the last couple of years.
Sources said that around 800 highly trained militants are waiting at the launch pads across the LoC ready to infiltrate. “They are trying to infiltrate from all the sectors”, sources added.
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