Accusing Pakistan of breaching ongoing ceasefire understanding arrived between the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO's) in February 2021, the Indian Army on Sunday claimed they have foiled an infiltration or BAT action by eliminating a heavily armed intruder along the Line of control in the Keran sector of North Kashmir's Kupwara district.
The Indian army has also asked the Pakistan Army to take back the body of the intruder via 'hotline communication'.
Interestingly, the incident was reported barely hours after both the armies had exchanged packets of sweets on the occasion of New Year 2022 on Saturday. "In a complete breach of the ongoing ceasefire understanding between the two armies across the line of control, an infiltration or BAT action was attempted in the Keran Sector of Kupwara district on 01 Jan. Swift action by the troops deployed at the Line of Control foiled the bid and eliminated the terrorist", the Indian army said in a written statement. As per the statement, "an infiltrator, dressed in Pathani suit and black jacket, was detected moving from areas under the control of Pakistan Army across the Line of Control at around 3.00 p.m on 01 Jan 21". "Ambushes were laid along likely routes that could be adopted by the intruder and movement was followed till 4.00 p.m. The ambush was sprung at the opportune moment and the infiltrator eliminated. The body of the slain infiltrator was recovered along with one AK 47 and a large quantity of ammunition including seven grenades", the senior army officer told reporters.
The intruder was later identified as Mohd Shabbir Malik, a Pakistani national, equipped with weapons, ammunition and warlike stores. The incident site,located on the Pakistani side of the Anti Infiltration Obstacle System, was kept under surveillance by the Indian Army to effectively counter any nefarious activity by the infiltrators or Pakistan Army.
The Indian army is carrying out surveillance of the area to prevent any exploitation of the bad weather conditions prevailing in the area. According to a senior Army officer the route adopted by the terrorist was similar to the one adopted on 04 Apr 20 during Op Rangadori Bhaikh in which five terrorists were eliminated.
The Indian army has also recovered a Pakistani National identity card and vaccination certificates (issued by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation & Coordination Government of Pakistan) identifying him as Mohd Shabir Malik.