Three unidentified militants were killed as the Army foiled a major infiltration bid by ultras along the Line of Control (LoC) in Nowshera sector of Rajouri district in Jammu region on Monday.
Sources told DH that on the intervening night of May 29 and 30, an infiltration bid took place on LoC in Kabootar Gala area located in Kalal of Nowshera sector. “While the infiltrators were trying to sneak in, an explosion took place that was possibly after one of the infiltrators stepped on an anti-personnel mine. Soon after it, the ambush parties of the army cordoned around 400 meters area and a fierce firefight took place which lasted for several hours,” they said.
Inspector General Police (IGP), Jammu, Mukesh Singh while confirming the killing of three heavily armed militants said fourth one sustained injuries for whom search operation is on.
“Three militants have been killed. It was an infiltration bid and they were trying to sneak in,” he said and added that a fourth militant was injured in the exchange of fire and may be hiding in the area.
Sources said a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from the encounter site, which includes an American made M-16 rifle, two AK 47 rifles and Under Barrel Grenade Launcher along with grenades.
Unconfirmed reports said ten more infiltrating militants were killed in Mendhar sector of neighbouring Poonch district. “Indian Army retaliated to the Pakistani ceasefire violation and destroyed a terror launch pad housing 10 to 15 terrorists who were waiting for the opportunity to infiltrate into the Indian side,” sources said.
They said the Army had the inputs that a group of 10 to 15 militants had assembled at a launch pad across the LoC. “To help the infiltrators cross over the LoC, the Pakistan Army resorted to the unprovoked ceasefire violation which was retaliated by the Indian troops. In the retaliation, the terror launch pad was targeted in which ten terrorists were killed and others were injured,” sources said.
They added that with cornavirus pandemic spreading chaos everywhere, the Pakistan army is trying to take advantage of the crisis and push militants into Jammu and Kashmir. Since last two months several attempts were made by the infiltrators with Pakistani army giving them covering fire along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lt Gen B S Raju, General-Officer-Commanding (GOC) of strategically located 15 Corps in Srinagar, anticipates an increase in infiltration attempts from across the border this summer to replenish the diminishing militant cadres in J&K.
“The back of terrorism has been virtually broken and that Pakistan is unable to digest that Kashmiris are experiencing peace and an improved law and order situation. I anticipate more and more attempts to replenish the depleting cadres, as the window for infiltration is also restricted to the summer season only,” he said.
The general said there have been several ceasefire violations by Pakistani Army to support the infiltrating militant groups, but added such designs have been frustrated as “our befitting response to ceasefire violations has been swift, hard and punitive.”