Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 9: Army last night foiled an infiltration attempt by the militants on the Line of Control (LoC) at Janghar in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district forcing three militants to retreat. All three militants were reported to be Pakistanis.
Official sources said troops observed movement of three militants on the LoC ahead of fence in Janghar sector of Rajouri district at 11 pm last night and became alert. As the militants came close to LoC, the troops challenged them and asked them to surrender.
However, the militants opened firing with AK rifles, which they had been carrying with them. Troops fired back. Exchange of firing lasted few minutes.
“Finding themselves trapped by the Army from all sides on the LoC, the militants made no further attempt to infiltrate into the Indian side and retreated’’, they said, adding that the militants were three in numbers and all of them were believed to be Pakistanis going by the beard they were supporting and the Khan dresses they were wearing.
Troops did not suffer any casualties or damage in brief firing by the militants.
In the morning, troops conducted searches along the LoC in Janghar sector of Nowshera but there were no traces of militants. The signs showed the militants had retreated back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from where they had been launched into this side.
The militants also took away their weapons with them while fleeing back to PoK.
Each of the three militants were in possession of an AK series rifle, sources said.
Troops were already maintaining high alert all along the LoC following reports that with opening of passes in summer, the militants would make desperate attempts to infiltrate into this side as they were miserably running short of manpower and weaponry.
During past couple of months, the militants have made a series of attempts on the LoC to infiltrate into this side from Mendhar, Balakote, Krishna Ghati, Nowshera sectors etc in twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch.
However, troops have foiled all attempts of the militants aimed at infiltration into this side. Some of the intrusion bids of the militants were also backed by Pakistan Army, which gave them covering fire in violation of ceasefire.
On the International Border (IB) also, the militants have made infiltration bids in Samba sector. Here also, the BSF has foiled all intrusion bids, some of which were backed by the Rangers, with covering fire.
Army and BSF were maintaining strict surveillance and using Night Vision Devices (NVDs) at LoC and IB respectively to thwart any possibility of infiltration by the militants. There were reports that a number of militants continued to camp at LoC and IB on Pakistan side awaiting an opportunity to sneak into this side but have failed to get any.
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