Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 16: Army today foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Macchil sector of Kupwara district in North Kashmir and killed two militants.
Sources said that Army troops of 45 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) noticed movement of a group of 4-5 infiltrators near the fence at Gautam post in North West of Macchil at around 3:30 a.m today. The infiltrators were challenged by the troops leading to a gun battle in which two militants were killed. The rest members of the group fled towards Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Sources said that during the search operation two AK-47 rifles, two AK magazines, 250 rounds of ammunition, one 9 MM pistol, two pistol magazines and 16 rounds of pistol ammunition, one map, one matrix sheet, two diaries, three hand grenades, four UBGL rounds and one wire cutter were recovered from the possession of the dead militants.
A massive operation has been launched near the fence to ensure that no militant managed to infiltrate in the sector.
Srinagar based Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said: “Two terrorists were killed today as Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Macchil.” He said troops noticed suspicious movement along the LoC and challenged the intruders, leading to a gunfight in which the two intruders were killed. He said weapons and war like stores were recovered during searches.
A senior Army officer said that large number of militants are waiting on the LoC for infiltration and Pakistan intends to push them ahead of winter when the mountain passes close due to snow. He said that the Army has intensified its vigil to foil such designs.
He said that Army is on heightened alert and vigil along the LoC has been increased and patrolling intensified to foil the infiltration attempts. He said that militants are carrying reconnaissance along the LoC regularly but the tight vigil by the Army and regular patrols prevent them from sneaking in despite pressure from their masters.
The officer said that Army this year also deployed more troops in the forest areas near the LoC to put pressure on the militant groups from transporting the infiltrating militants into hinterland. The troops deployed in the forests neutralized several militant groups after they managed to sneak in.
Despite strict vigil along the LoC, around 80 militants have sneaked in this year into Kashmir till July. These militants mostly infiltrated from Keran, Gurez, Macchil and Nowgam sectors of Kashmir and majority of them are in North Kashmir.
Security forces have also achieved major successes this year and eliminated 146 militants so far including 8 top commanders. Majority of them were killed in last three months after security forces launched massive offensive in South Kashmir. Last year 150 were killed in Kashmir while 108 militants were killed in 2015, 110 in 2014, 67 in 2013, 72 in 2012 and 100 in 2011.
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