Two heavily-armed infiltrators were shot dead and two soldiers got wounded in a prolonged gun-battle in north Kashmir’s Tangdhar sector on Thursday. The bodies of the slain militants and their weapons have been recovered from the encounter site, a Defence spokesman said.
The encounter took place a day after National Security Advisor Ajit Doval concluded his two-day visit to the embattled State who advised the state authorities to take effective measures to counter militancy and curb radicalisation of youngsters.
Sources said that the troops deployed along the line of Control (loC) detected movement of militants in Eagle Post area of the Tangdhar sector. The infiltrators were engaged in gun-battle when they entered into the firing range but due to inclement weather they succeeded in prolonging the encounter for two days. “In the inclement weather, terrorists took shelter behind the boulders and the intermittent exchange of fire continued on July 22 and 23.
During the exchange of fire two infiltrators have died so far while two soldiers including an officer were wounded with splinters. The injured soldiers have been airlifted to Army’s Base Hospital in Srinagar where they are reported to be in stable condition.
Two bodies have been recovered from the forested area along-with two AK 47 Rifles, two rucksacks and other warlike stores.
This is the seventh infiltration bid in north Kashmir area during this year, most of which took place using Keran and Tangdhar sectors of Kupwara. One attempt was made in Uri sector where two infiltrators and a soldier died in a prolonged gun-battle.
Thirteen militants and three soldiers have been killed in three encounters in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district. The first infiltration of this year was detected and foiled in Tutmar Gali area on May 25.
The infiltrators were shot down a day after NSA Ajit Doval concluded his two day visit to capital Srinagar to review security situation. He is understood to have told the security grid in the State to work in synergy to counter infiltration and issues related to internal security. Doval held a series of meetings with top security officers besides meeting Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and his deputy Dr Nirmal Singh. Doval has asked the security agencies to effectively address the issues of radicalization among the Kashmiri youngsters.