SRINAGAR: The Army on Sunday foiled two infiltration bids by ultras along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar and Keran sectors of North Kashmir, killing two militants. A soldier died in the gunbattle and two Army men sustained injuries. Army troops had spotted a group of militants trying to sneak into the Indian side of the LoC in Tangdhar sector of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday, an officer said.
“After detecting the untoward movement, the Army opened fire on them. The fire was returned by the militants,” he said, adding the encounter continued till Sunday afternoon.
He said an Army man was killed and two others injured in the gunfight. “Now the firefight has stopped and Army men are conducting combing and search operations along the LoC.”
The deceased soldier has been identified as Rifleman Bashir Ahmad War of the border district of Kupwara. The injured have been taken to the Army Hospital in Srinagar. The official said since the weather was foggy in the area, more men have been rushed to the LoC to assist the troops in the combing operation.
“We are not certain whether they (the militants) are there or might have returned to Pakistan controlled Kashmir. During the searches, we have not recovered the body of any militant or weapon so far. The combing operation was going on,” he said. The Army foiled another infiltration attempt by militants at Jumagand Nar in Keran sector of border district of Kupwara.
“Army men detected movement of militants between LoC and LoC fencing in Keran sector during the preceding night. They fired on the Army men, who retaliated,” he said.