70 militants on launch pads in PoK: GOC
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Oct 2: Army today foiled two major infiltration bids along the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir killing 5 militants while militants hurled a grenade on an ambush party of security forces in Baramulla injuring two Police men and militants killed a police man in South Kashmir tonight.
A senior Army officer said that Army foiled a major infiltration attempt by 4-5 militants in Torna area of Rampur sector today killing two militants.
The officer said that 21-Sikh regiment of Army deployed at Torna had laid ambush ahead of fence after inputs of infiltration attempts by highly armed militants. He said that the troops deployed on the forward posts fired at the infiltrating militants after they saw suspicious movement during the night.
Two dead bodies of militants and two AK-47 rifles were recovered in the morning during the search of the area. The searches are going on and the other members of the group may have fled back to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) under the cover of darkness. However, Army didn’t want to take a chance and are fanning the area to ensure that no militant has managed to sneak in.
The Army troops of 6 Gharwal and 20 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) foiled a major infiltration attempt by a group of 4-5 militants in Tanghdar sector and killed 3 militants.
Sources said that troops had laid ambush at Nadgali Post area in Tanghdar sector after inputs that 4-5 militants are trying to infiltrate into the sector. They said that the Army had laid ambush and after seeing suspicious movement in the area, they fired at the group leading to an encounter.
Army said that they have recovered three dead bodies and three weapons so far besides war like stores. The search operation in the area is going on and Army wants to make ensure that militants are in the area.
Sources said that police had passed on information to the Army that last night a group of four militants had infiltrated in Tanghdar sector and Army traced this morning them in Balcharian village. They were challenged leading to a gun battle in which three militants were killed and search for the fourth one is going on.
Sources said that four Army personnel including an officer were also injured in the encounter. They have been removed to hospital for treatment.
A cop, Aashiq Hussain, who was posted as Munshi in Awantipora Police Station of Pulwama district was shot dead tonight in Padgampora village of the district.
Hussain had gone to Padgampora village to attend marriage and militants barged into the house and fired at him. They fled leaving him in a pool blood. He died on the spot. He was a resident of Kral Chek in village Chadoora of Budgam district.
Senior police officers reached the spot and a massive hunt has been launched against his killers.
In the meantime, a joint check post (naka) was set up SOG of police and 52 RR of Army at Juhama in Baramulla after inputs about militant movement in the area.
Shortly after 6 p.m. a motorcycle which was coming from the opposite side made an about turn on seeing the check post and as they were asked to stop, one of the two militants riding the motorcycle hurled a grenade towards the security personnel. Two policemen were injured in the blast. The area was cordoned off and searches are being conducted for the two militants.
Al-Jehad militant outfit that was operating in Kashmir in early 1990s has claimed responsibility for the attack. They have circulated posters in some areas of Baramulla claiming that they have hurled grenade at security forces this evening.
General Officer Commanding of Baramulla based 19 Division of Army, Major General R P Kalita said around 60-70 militants are waiting on the launch pads in PoK for infiltration.
The GOC was speaking to reporters at Gulmarg in North Kashmir. He said the killing of Lashkar-e-Islam chief Abdul Qayoom Najjar in a gunfight on LoC in Uri last week was a major success for security forces as he wanted to revive militancy in Sopore and its adjoining areas.
Qayoom was an old leader with lot of support network in Sopore and adjoining areas and was coming to Kashmir from Pakistan to revive the militancy which had received a blow due to killings of senior commanders in North Kashmir. “While infiltrating, our alert troops eliminated Najjar and it was a major success,” he said.
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