Army fighting multiple infiltration bids in Kupwara

SRINAGAR / JAMMU: The army is fighting one of this year’s biggest multiple infiltration bids in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, more than 100 km from Srinagar.

In the continuing gunfire, around 12 militants are believed to have died as 30 militants from four militants groups were pushed across the line of control (LoC) recently.

“Heavy firefight is on in Kupwara’s Keran sector. Our troops have observed 10-12 bodies of militants. We will not retrieve the bodies until all are killed,” said Srinagar-based lieutenant general Gurmeet Singh.

Contact between infiltrators and the army was established on the night of September 23-24. “Our alert and effective integrated security grid had prior intelligence about the infiltration. The area has been cordoned off and all escape routes plugged. This is a massive infiltration bid,” said Singh.

Around 30 militants have tried to enter from four different points along the LoC spread over a 5-square-km area.

“These infiltrating militants belong to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jash-e-Muhammad, Al-Badr and Hizbul Mujahideen. Our troops have displayed the highest level of dedication by thwarting the bid,” Singh said.

The army has recorded the movements of militants from unmanned aerial vehicles. Choppers have also been pressed into service.

Thursday’s attack in Kathuia, which left 12 people dead, is an outcome of heightened tension along the border. It started in the beginning of this year and has threatened to shatter the fragile peace.In January, a special unit of the Pakistan army beheaded two Indian soldiers along the LoC in Poonch. It was the first attack of such nature after both India and Pakistan agreed to hold ceasefire along the border in 2003.