SRINAGAR: Army on Thursday said troops thwarted attempts by Pakistan army to push militants into Jammu and Kashmir by foiling four infiltration bids of militants along Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir in last 48 hours and killing seven heavily armed militants while a soldier also died in the gunfight.
In this year, army has foiled 22 infiltration attempts by militants along LoC in the State by killing 34 militants.
Defence spokesman in Srinagar said alert army men foiled an infiltration bid along Naugam sector in border district of Kupwara today.
He said the army men killed three militants and recovered three weapons and other war-like stores from their possession.
A soldier was also killed in the gunfight and the combing operation was going on, he said.
Army’s Northern command spokesman said Naugam bid was the 4th infiltration bid of militants foiled by soldiers along LoC in Kashmir in last 48 hours.
He said apart from Naugam sector, the infiltration bids have been foiled in Machil, Gurez and Uri sectors.
Four armed militants were killed in the Machil sector, where infiltration bid was foiled yesterday, the spokesman said adding large cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants.
He said the troops, who are on highest level of alert, foiled the infiltration bid of militants in Gurez sector.
The prompt action forced the infiltrating militants to escape back to other side of LoC leaving behind rucksacks, he said.
The spokesman said another infiltration bid was foiled in Uri sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
The combing operation in the area is going on, he said.
The spokesman said the militant groups were being provided active support including covering fire from heavily calibre artillery by the Pakistani army posts on the LoC to assist them in infiltration into the Valley for causing disturbance in the State.
According to army official, the infiltration bids by militants have increased in the wake of melting of snow in the upper reaches along the LoC.
“Once the snow starts melting, infiltration attempts by militants pick up as Pakistan army wants to push them into the Valley. The army is alert to deal with any situation and the counter infiltration grid along the LoC has been strengthened by deploying more sophisticated gadgets to detect movement of militants,” he said.
The Northern command spokesman said 22 infiltration attempts of militants have been foiled along the LoC in the State this year. “34 armed militants have been killed while foiling these bids”.
He said relentless operations by security forces have defeated desperate attempts by Pakistan and its agents to spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir during the holy month of Ramadan.