The Indian Army on Friday foiled a major Border Action Team (BAT) attack from Pakistan in Uri sector of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district killing two unidentified intruders. The attack was foiled weeks after bodies of two Indian soldiers were mutilated in Poonch by a BAT team that heightened tension on the volatile borders.
Sources said the BAT action had been planned in forests closer to Aman Setu (peace bridge) that crosses the line of Control (loC) on the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad Road. Earlier this month, a soldier was injured in an attack in the same area that triggered a massive crackdown.
Defence spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the BAT action was aimed against the Indian Army along the loC. “Two BAT terrorists were killed in the operation that is still in progress,” he said on Friday evening.
Sources said that the infiltration bid was foiled at around 8:40 am when soldiers of Jammu & Kashmir light Infantry (JAK lI) deployed in the area monitored movement of two armed intruders coming from a Pakistani post.
“The intruders were challenged. In about half an hour’s gunfight, two BAT terrorists were killed. The bodies of the two have been recovered and they were only carrying one AK-47 rifle and one pistol,” he said.
Unlike other terrorists, who carry large quantity of arms and war-like stores, the intruders were equipped with light weapons, indicating they were BAT members who could have attacked the Army before fleeing back to the other side of the loC, he added.
Commanding Officer of 4 JAK lI Colonel Bhanwar Singh said that the Army was suspecting the presence of more BAT members in the area. “The search operation is underway,” he told reporters in Uri.
The Army said that this was the second BAT attack in J&K in this month. Earlier on May 1, two soldiers were killed and their bodies were mutilated in a BAT action in Krishna Ghati area of Poonch in Jammu region. The area has proximity with the Uri region though the road link between the two areas has been snapped as Pakistan is in control of Hajipir region.