Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: A major infiltration bid by a group of five heavily-armed militants, under cover fire provided by the Pakistani Rangers, was scuttled along the International Border in Samba district today by the Border Security Force (BSF).
This was second major intrusion bid by the armed militants thwarted in Samba sector by the BSF during past 12 days.
All the five terrorists fled back to Pakistan in the face of effective retaliation by the border guarding force, official sources said.
On the intervening night of September 26 and 27, a spokesman said, BSF troops noticed movement of a group of militants who were attempting to infiltrate into this side.
The infiltrators opened fire when challenged by the BSF, which retaliated. Finding the BSF jawans very high alert along the International Border, the militants retreated to Pakistan.
Officials said the incident took place in Mangu Chak Border Outpost (BOP) area of Ghagwal around 11.45 pm and small arms firing between the India and Pakistani troops lasted for about 30 minutes.
“Taking advantage of darkness and thick Sarkanda (grass variety) growth, the heavily-armed militant group tried to enter into Indian Territory and opened fire when challenged by the BSF. Pakistani Rangers also fired on Indian posts to provide fire cover to the infiltrating militants who, however, fled back due to coordinated and effective fire by BSF,” the spokesman said.
A similar attempt by a group of militants was foiled in Samba sector on the intervening night of September 14 and 15.
Earlier, a BSF official said a massive search operation was launched early this morning to sanitize the area.
“The search operation is on but no incriminating material has been recovered so far,” he said.
There has been a spurt in incidents of airdropping of weapons by drones and smuggling of narcotics along the IB and Line of Control (LoC) amid frequent ceasefire violations in Jammu region over the past few weeks.
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