Amid continuous flush-out operation against infiltrators in north Kashmir’s Keran sector, the Army on Friday foiled another infiltration bid in Gujjurtor area after killing three militants. The Army retrieved two bodies of slain militants while another body was seen lying across the line of Control (loC), along Kilpara Nar pocket.
These areas are in close vicinity of Shalbato village where the Army is fighting highly trained militants. The loC situation reverberated in the J&K Assembly on Friday when members of the National Panthers Party and the BJP asked the State Government to inform the House about the actual situation. The members shouted anti-Pakistan slogans and staged a brief walkout. Speaker Mubarak Gul said that the issue was of serious nature with national and international ramifications. However, the Government did not issue any statement on the ground situation along the loC.
Army sources said that troops observed suspicious movement of infiltrating militants in Gujjurtor area near Shalbato on October 4. “When challenged, a heavy firefight ensued resulting in elimination of three militants. Two dead bodies of slain militants have been recovered along with three AK 47s, four pistols, one Yeasu set, besides three bags with warlike stores,” a defence spokesman said. He added that the body of third terrorist was seen to be lying just across loC along Kilpara Nar. Search operations in the area were in progress till last reports came in.
The spokesman said that intermittent firing was going on in Shalbato area. "The terrain in the area of operation is rugged, forested and high altitude with heights varying between 9000 to 10000 feet," the spokesman said. The Army said that the entire area has been effectively cordoned off with militants pinned own within the cordon. In Delhi, Army chief General Bikram Singh denied suggestions that a Kargil-like situation had developed in Keran sector and said the ultras will be flushed out soon.
Echoing similar sentiments, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne in his capacity as Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee said the localised operation will be over in two or three days. He also said the Army is fully capable of dealing with the situation and if need be the IAF is there to assist.
Asserting that the militants have not occupied any Indian village along the loC, the Army chief said, "It is nothing like that. It was an infiltration attempt by 30 to 40 terrorists."
Militants attempted to infiltrate from four or five places and the security forces had information about it, he said adding, "they have been stopped and some of them killed. Operations are on to flush them out. It is a matter of time."
The Army chief also denied that any Army post or bunker has been occupied by the terrorists. "We are dominating them from all sides and the terrorists are holed up. It is difficult treacherous terrain. They are stuck in that and we will take them on. It is a question of time," he said.
Justifying the time taken to counter the threat, Singh said such kind of operations take time to complete as the incident happened along the border and Pakistan Army posts are located very close.
"These operations take time as terrorists have to be flushed out and we do not want casualties from our side. Also the post of Pakistan is just across. They can fire on our post as well. So, we will have to exercise all precaution in carrying out such operations," the Army chief said.
Asked about reports which suggested that three terrorists, who attacked a police station and an army camp in Jammu region on September 26, had planned to storm an Army school in the area, Singh said, "No, I have not heard of this particular input. But the moment we get this input from intelligence agencies, we will share it with you."
The IAF chief said this year has seen more infiltration bids from across the loC adding "ceasefire violations by Pakistan are there for the world to see" and called for maintaining the sanctity of ceasefire accord.