One militant killed as Army foils infiltration bid in Kashmir

Jammu : At least one militant was killed along the Line of Control (LoC) in Gurez sector of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Tuesday as army foiled one more infiltration bid. Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said that an infiltration bid was foiled in Gurez sector in which one militant was killed. “Three weapons have also been recovered. Operation is in progress,” he said.

Sources said on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday troops guarding the LoC noticed movement of a heavily armed group of militants trying to infiltrate into Indian territory under the cover of darkness in Gurez sector.

“As the troops challenged the infiltrators, they opened fire and tried to hide in nearby forests. The army tightened to cordon around the area and in the morning a massive search operation was launched and contact was established with the hiding militants,” they said and added that one militant has been killed in the encounter so far.

Sources said the operation is still underway as additional reinforcement from other army units have been rushed to the area and vast forest area has been cordoned off.  A senior army officer said the deployment of additional troops on the LoC along the traditional infiltration routes in north Kashmir’s Baramulla and Kupwara districts this year seems to have paid dividends as a number of ultras have been killed at the entry point itself.

“Over 25 infiltration attempts have been foiled in the recent months and 50 ultras have been killed along the LoC,” he said. “With additional troops, the army have placed ambush parties at new locations and places which militants and there guides don’t know till they are trapped. It has helped in bringing down infiltration levels,” the officer said and added that Pakistan is now trying to push the militants through the Gurez area which is jointly guarded by army and the Border Security Force (BSF).