Srinagar, Nov 8 (UNI) Alert troops of Border Security Force (BSF) foiled a major infiltration bid from Pakistani Occupied Kashmir (POK) when they killed a militant at Line of Control (LoC) in Machil sector in the frontier district of Kupwara in the early hours of Sunday, a BSF spokesman said.

He said a constable Sudip Sarkar who was injured during fight with infiltrators made the supreme sacrifice.

Earlier, defence ministry spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia told UNI that troops guarding LoC noticed suspicious movement of unidentified persons near LoC fence in Machil sector in Kupwara at 0100 hours on Sunday.

However, when challenged and asked to surrender, infiltrators opened fire with automatic weapons, he said adding the fire was retaliated and in the ensuing encounter a militant was killed.

He said one AK rifle and two bags were recovered from the slain militant. The operation was going on when the reports last came in, he said.

BSF spokesman said a militant was killed while other members of the group had been pushed back to POK.

He said constable Sudip Sarkar continued fighting despite being injured. Sarkar succumbed before he could be shifted to hospital.

He said troops from 15 Corps also joined the operation which was going on when the reports last came in.

Meanwhile, senior Army officers and Director General of Police (DGP) have said there are a large number of militants in launch pads at LoC in POK to sneak into this side before the infiltration routes are closed due to heavy snowfall. However, they said, security forces guarding the LoC are already on high alert to foil any such infiltration attempt.

UNI BAS SY 1436