5 militants killed in Uri were fidayeens: Army
DEADLY MISSION Grenades, strapon IEDs and incendiary material recovered
The five militants who were killed in north Kashmir’s Uri sector on the Line of Control on Friday had unique body-fitted improvised explosive devices (IEDs) indicating they were fidayeens (suicide squad), the army said on Sunday.
The army said they found huge quantity of arms and ammunition in search operations after the initial gun fight on June 9.
“In these search operations huge quantities of arms and ammunition have been recovered which includes five AK 47, two under barrel grenade launchers, large quantity of explosives, combat dresses, incendiary material, eatables with Pakistan markings and uniquely body fitted IEDs with timer mechanisms, all indicating that this was a Fidayeen group which was infiltration with the sinister plans to carry out gruesome attacks on an army camp or a civil installation in and around Uri,” said Brigadier YS Ahlawat in a media interaction at Uri Base, about 100 km from Srinagar.
He said the alertness of army not only resulted in the elimination of this group but also ensured peace and tranquillity in the Valley, which “this group wanted to vitiate in the holy month of Ramadan”.
“This is the fifth infiltration attempt that has been successfully eliminated by the army in the last three days. The army continues to resolve to keep a strict vigil on LoC and foil all such nefarious designs of Pakistan abetted terrorists,” he said.
The army on Friday had claimed it foiled an infiltration bid killing five militants in the Uri sector. A total of 13 militants were killed in the four sectors of Machhil, Naugam, Gurez and Uri since Wednesday morning.
Giving details of the Uri operation, Brigadier Ahlawat said the militants tried to infiltrate into Uri by exploiting the thick jungles on the LoC during the night.
“Alert army troops detected their movement and immediately engaged them in a firefight. After the initial firefight, they carried out a prolonged search operation which has lasted for two days in thick jungles and difficult terrain under inclement weather conditions,” he said. He said the group was from Lashkar-e-Taiba and was the second major operation after two members of Pakistan’s Border Action Team (BAT) were killed in Uri on May 26. Meanwhile, Pakistan continued with ceasefire violation along the LoC on Saturday and Sunday. Civilian and military areas were targeted, defence spokesman Lt Col Manish Mehta said.
A policeman was wounded after suspected militants fired at him in Shopian on Sunday. Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, with the special operations group, was targeted outside their camp. “Ganai was hit in the shoulder and hip,” said an officer. He is stable.