Pakistani troops targeted Indian border outposts and hamlets along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district in overnight firing and shelling, a senior BSF officer said today. PTI file photo for representation
The army foiled an infiltration attempt by militants to cross over from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) into the Machil sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Saturday, and two ultras were killed in the ensuing encounter.
Sources said troops guarding the LoC in Machil sector noticed the movement of heavily armed militants, who were trying to infiltrate into Indian territory. "As the troops challenged the infiltrators, they opened fire and in the retaliatory action two unidentified militants were killed," they said.
Defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia confirmed that an infiltration bid was foiled in Machil sector in which two militants were killed. “During the search, weapons and warlike stores were recovered from the possession of the slain militants," he said. The identity and the group affiliation of the slain militants were not immediately known.
On August 7, five militants were killed by the army in Machil sector when they were trying to infiltrate into the Indian side. Earlier in July, four more infiltrating militants were killed in the same sector.
This year more than 25 infiltration attempts have been foiled by the army and over 45 armed intruders have been eliminated along the LoC. In 2015, militants made 28 infiltration attempts along the LoC while last year the number rose to 88 infiltration attempts.
“There is pressure on militants waiting on launching pads to infiltrate due to depleting the number of militants in the State in view of successes achieved by security forces,” a senior Amry officer said and added the Army has enhanced its capability and boosted its strategy to check the infiltration attempts along the LoC.
"Intelligence inputs suggest that around 250 militants were waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate into our side at various launch pads along the LoC from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir side,” the officer added.
The latest infiltration bid took place amid reports that Pakistani troops targeted Indian border outposts and civilian areas along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district in overnight firing and shelling.