#4 LoC firing on, 15 militants killed
SRINAGAR, JULY 13: The Army today claimed to have killed 15 of the 35-odd terrorists who had tried to cross the LoC near the Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday. Army officers said that operations against the heavily-armed group were still on.
According to Army spokesperson, Col V K Batra, ââThe operation is taking time as militants have split into small groups and are hiding at an altitude of 14,000 feet. The operation started on Tuesday morning after troops got specific inputs about the infiltration.ââ
Batra added that harsh weather conditions were hampering the operation. ââThe troops are chasing the militants, but other details will be available after weather improves,ââ he said. The militants were spotted by the troops of 20 Punjab near Kabuli Gai and asked to lay down their arms but they retaliated.
Sources said some of the militants may have crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under fog cover by now. ââThe forest area is engulfed by clouds and there is a likelihood that some militants might have managed to escape to PoK,ââ said an officer.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police, Javid Makahdoomi said the infiltrators have taken shelter in the mountains near Gurez. ââThe area is like a natural concrete bunker and encounter is in progress,ââ he said.
This is the second infiltration bid in Gurez sector since the fresh round of India-Pakistan talks began, and the 14th in the Valley.
The attempt comes a day after Foreign Minister Natwar Singh said militant camps were active across the LoC. The Army has also increased the level of patrolling along the frontier fence to intercept militants from reaching their âreceiving areasâ from where they are guided towards villages by local commanders. |
SRINAGAR â Eight militants and an army soldier were killed in fresh clashes in Jammu and Kashmir, army and police officials said yesterday. Indian troops pursuing Kashmiri rebels shot dead three militants in northern Baramulla district late Sunday, army spokesman Vijay Batra said. One of the slain militants was identified as Tanveer Abbasi, whose alias is Gazali. âGazali was serving as chief financial controller of the Harkat-ul-Mujahedin militant group,â said Batra .