The Army in Kashmir has said that two infiltrators were gunned down in frontier Kupwara district on Wednesday when a group of militants tried to sneak into the Valley. A Defence spokesman said that the infiltration bid was foiled in Keran sector of Kupwara when the Army noticed suspicious movement around the line of Control area at 3 am on Wednesday.
During the last two months, 21 infiltrators have been killed along the loC. Sources said that the group of infiltrators was challenged by the troops of Ustad brigade shooting two infiltrators. The gun-battle took place a week after five soldiers were shot dead by the Pakistani troops in Poonch sector after infiltrating 400 meters inside the loC. The incident has heightened tension along the India-Pakistan border.
The Army said the killing of five soldiers was an act of revenge by Pakistan against the killing of 19 infiltrators on loC in recent weeks. Pakistani media has claimed that at least four persons killed on the loC were civilians kidnapped by the Indian Army from Neelaum valley in Pakistan occupied Kashmir. Defence experts say that the troops guarding the loC have a history of reacting to provocations and reactions to them.
Even as a ceasefire along borders is in vogue since November 2003, there have been several attempts to violate the pact. This year, 57 ceasefire violations by Pakistan have been reported. This is an increase of 80 per cent as compared to ceasefire violations in 2012, the Army says. Meanwhile, red alert has been sounded across Kashmir while tight security arrangements have been made in and around Bakshi Stadium where the function of Independence Day will be held on Thursday. Inspector General Police (IGP) Kashmir Abdul Gani Mir said that proactive measures have been taken to ensure secure I-D celebrations “Security forces have been alerted to prevent any untoward incident,” he said.