SRINAGAR : Security forces foiled a major infiltration bid from across the border in the frontier district of Kupwara, where polling in five Assembly constituencies is under progress today. However, Defence Ministry spokesperson Lt Colonel N N Joshi was not available to give details about the incident. Official sources said troops guarding Nowgam sector noticed a group of militants sneaking into this area under the cover of darkness early this morning from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).
However, when challenged and asked to surrender, the militants opened indiscriminate firing with automatic weapons.
Security forces retaliated and in the fierce encounter three militants were killed. Reinforcement was rushed to the area and a massive search operation has been launched from all sides. Though there was no information about the presence of more militants, search operation has been launched in the woods, sources said.
Altogether five constituencies–Karnah, Kupwara, Lolab, Handwara and Langate are under polling process in Kupwara district which shares 248 km-long border with PoK. The infiltration bid came a day after Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Dalbir Singh visited forward posts on the Line of Control (LOC) in Langate and Macchil sectors, yesterday.
He reviewed the security situation along the LoC, where militants are waiting on the launch pads in the PoK to infiltrate into this side, before the higher reaches are closed due to heavy snowfall.
(AGENCIES)
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