Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 27: In a major success, Army gunned down two Pakistani militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit in a fierce exchange of gun-battle and thwarted infiltration attempt by a group of five to six militants at forward village of Balnoi on the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in wee hours of this morning.
In addition to a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives, Army also recovered Pakistan made eatables, Indian SIM cards and Taiwan made Global Positioning Systems (GPS) from the possession of slain militants, who were in combat dresses and in the age group of 25 to 27 years.
Official sources said troops observed movement of militants trying to infiltrate into Indian territory on surveillance gadgets installed between Roshni and Gun Hill Posts at Balnoi sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district at 2 am today. Alert troops challenged the militants when they reached close to the fence and asked them to surrender.
The militants opened firing and made desperate attempts to sneak into this side. A heavy exchange of gun fighting between militants and the troops continued till 3.30 am in which two infiltrators were killed.
As the Army personnel were engaged in searches, Pakistani troops started heavy firing on Indian positions at 5.30 am in an apparent bid to facilitate infiltration by remaining group of four militants. However, an effective retaliation by the troops forced rest of the ultras to retreat to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The firing from Pakistan side continued till 8 am, sources said, adding that troops conducted searches on the LoC and recovered bodies of both the slain militants along with a large quantity of arms and ammunition and Pakistan made items.
Army didn’t suffer any casualties in the firing.
Sources identified the slain militants as Abu Mahaz alias Khandari Kashmiri, a divisional commander and Abu Anzala alias Abu Tallah Afghani, an area commander of the LeT outfit. Both of them were Pakistani nationals and were wearing Army uniform.
They added that the militant group, which retreated to PoK, was also in Army uniform. The aim of the militants was to pose as the Army personnel after infiltration if spotted by the villagers before reaching the safe hideout. However, the Army personnel foiled their plan by killing two militants and forcing others to retreat to PoK, sources said.
Recoveries made from the scene of encounter included two AK-47 rifles with 10 magazines and 193 rounds, two pouches, one wireless set with one antenna, two Under Barrel Grenade Launchers (UBGLs), eight UBGL grenades, two Pakistan made water bottles, one medicine kit, two Taiwan made Global Positioning Systems, two Nokia mobile handsets, two Indian SIM cards, Rs 12,000 Indian currency including three notes in 1000 denomination and 18 notes in 500 denomination, one map of Mendhar, one compass, one Matrix sheet, three Chinese hand grenades, one I Com set, one newspaper ‘Zaraar’ of Pakistan, two ‘Halwaal’ company’s juice bottles (also Made in Pakistan) and about 5 kg dry fruits.
Speaking to reporters briefly at the site of encounter, Brigadier TS Sandhu described killing of two Pakistani commanders of the LeT outfit as a major success of the Army and a big blow to the Lashkar outfit. He said Army didn’t suffer any casualties or damage in the gun-battle.
He said the slain militants were wearing Army uniforms and were in the age group of 25 to 27 years. He lauded the troops for their brave act of eliminating the top militants.
Police parties led by Additional SP Poonch Yougal Manhas, DySP (officiating) Azeem Qureshi and SHO Inspector Nazir Dar also joined the search operations, which continued till this afternoon.
It may be mentioned here that during the recent past, Pakistan Army had resorted to firing a number of times indulging in ceasefire violations on the LoC in Krishna Ghati and Mendhar sectors of Poonch district. During some of the firing incidents, Pakistan Army tried to push infiltrators but failed.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel