KL Report
SRINAGAR
One army personnel was killed in an infiltration bid, which was foiled on the intervening night of October 10 and 11 in the Kachhal area of the frontier Kupwara, said the Army spokesperson on Friday.
As per a statement the exchange of fire took place between army and militants when they were attempting infiltration in which a army personnel was injured who later succumbed to the injuries.
Meanwhile official sources told a local news agency, GNS, that a group of 6 to 7 armed militants Thursday night managed to sneak some 1.5 kilometers into this side near Kachal in Keran Sector which lies about 6 kilometers from Shalabatoo area.
The troops of 15 Rashtriya rifles challenged the militants ensuing a fierce gun battle which lasted several hours in the area resulting in killing of a trooper. The trooper has been identified as 25-year-old Sandeep Patil of Maharashtra.
Army’s Srinagar based defence spokesperson NN Joshi while talking to GNS said that a group of militants tried to sneak in Kachil area near LoC in Keran Sector around 9:30 last evening which was foiled by our alert troops ensuing an extreme exchange of fire. During the exchange of firing, a soldier sustained serious bullet injuries and was immediately rushed to hospital where he succumbed to injuries.
In another incident, a trooper of 23 Granadier identified as Hawaldar Zahid Ali, a 33 year old was injured critically in a landmine blast near Balbir Post in Keran Sector of Kupwara district. The injured personnel was immediately shifted to Army’s 92-base hospital here in Srinagar, official sources said.
Intelligence sources said that about 70 to 80 militants were waiting at the multiple points near LoC in Keran sector of Kupwara district. The militants who are waiting in different points include Eagle Post, Ustad Post, Fateh Gali, Shala Bhatoo, Kolang Post in Keran Sector. “We have specific information that around 80 militants are waiting just across the LoC to cross over to this side only in this particular sector,” sources said adding “But we are ready and appropriate security measures are in place to foil any such attempt,” they added.
Intelligence reports also suggest that about 15 militants might have infiltrated in recent past as there was a surge in infiltration attempts. “The group had likely joined the old group in Lolab area. Besides, some 7 to 8 militants might have entered in Trehgam sector of the Kupwara district.”
Helicopters were also used in these forest areas several times since Sep 25 to locate the militant group in Keran sector, sources said.
Meanwhile, following the intelligence inputs about the sneaking of militants in the frontier Kupwara district, Army on Thursday launched massive search operation in most forests of the district which include Divar, Gagal, Doorswani, Sheikh Nad , Kant Pora, Jumgand, Chowkibal, Trum Nad, Manchithar, Hafrada forests, Shamswari, Badnimal, Hagnikoot, Baliyan Behak, Waderballa, Rajwar and its adjoining areas in frontier district of Kupwara to track down the hiding militants that apparently crossed over to this side in recent past.
