Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 13: Army today thwarted a major infiltration attempt on the Line of Control (LoC) in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch district forcing a group of three militants to retreat to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from where they had been launched. This was the first major infiltration attempt by heavily armed militants this year to enter into the Indian territory amid reports that the intrusion bids could witness a surge in 2014 when both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections were due in the State.
Indian Director General of Military Operation (DGMO) Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia was likely to lodge a strong protest with his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Aamer Riaz tomorrow on hotline over Pakistan’s attempt to push militants into this side, official sources told the Excelsior.
They said the alert troops observed movement of three heavily armed militants trying to intrude into the Indian territory from Sabra and Lohara Gali in Nangi Tekri area of Krishna Ghati sector at 6.15 am today. Troops opened firing aiming the direction the militants were taking to enter into the Indian side. The firing continued till 7 am after which the militants retreated to PoK.
Army spokesman Col Manish Mehta said: “an infiltration attempt was foiled in Krishna Ghati sector. Troops in the forward areas observed movement of suspected terrorists at 6.15 am and opened firing after challenging the militants’’.
He added that Army conducted searches in the area after thwarting the intrusion bid.
Sources said the militants escaped back to PoK after observing heavy presence of troops, who fired effectively to neutralize the militants. They added that this was first intrusion bid of this year along the LoC in twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri though there had been heavy presence of militants on Pakistan side of the LoC, who were awaiting an opportunity to sneak in.
Army has been anticipating spurt in infiltration attempts along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir this year as Pakistan would try to push militants into the State to disturb the elections. While Lok Sabha elections were scheduled for April-May, the Assembly elections are due to be held in November-December.
Sources said all three militants, who tried to infiltrate into the Indian territory were Pakistanis and were heavily armed. They tried to take advantage of morning fog to infiltration but troops thwarted their plot.
According to sources, DGMO Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia was likely to lodge a strong protest with his Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Aamer Riaz tomorrow on hotline over the infiltration attempt by the militants, which couldn’t have taken place without active support of Pakistan Army.
The DGMOs had met at Wagah border in Amritsar district of Punjab on December 24 after a gap of 14 years. However, they talk to each other on hotline every Tuesday. In their meeting, the DGMOs had agreed to maintain 2003 ceasefire agreement under which no side would open firing on the LoC as well as the International Border (IB).
Troops were maintaining a high alert on the LoC in view of inputs that the militants could make attempts to infiltrate into this side to disturb the elections. Army had already installed sophisticated equipments along the LoC to timely observe movement of the infiltrators, sources said.
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