Pakistan’s terror factory suffered a major setback on Monday as Indian Army gunned down seven Pakistan Army jawans along the line of Control (loC) in Poonch and shot dead five infiltrators of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) shortly after they crossed the Jhelum river in a boat in Dulanja village in Uri sector of north Kashmir. Police said the slain terrorists were members of a fidayeen squad.
In the first incident, the Indian Army ‘flattened’ several bunkers and ‘strategic structures’ of the Pakistan Army. The ‘retaliatory’ strike coincided with the Army Day celebrations and was aimed at sending across a tough message to Pakistan over repeated provocations aimed at escalating tensions in the region.
An Indian Army jawan, hailing from Maharashtra, was earlier martyred in cross border shelling in Sunderbani area of Rajouri on Saturday.
However, there was no official confirmation from the Indian Army authorities till late evening about the exact number of fatal injuries inflicted on the Pakistani side of the border in the ‘punitive’ strike.
A senior Army officer closely supervising the ongoing operations confirmed to The Pioneer “as per our reports seven Pakistan soldiers were killed and four others were injured due to our actions”.
The officer, however, remained tight-lipped over the nature of strike carried out by the Indian Army to target forward Pakistani posts.
The Pakistan Army in a statement claimed that four of its soldiers were killed along the loC in the Jandrot, Kotli sector. According to a statement issued by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) — the army’s media wing, Pakistani troops were busy with maintenance of a communication line when they were “fired upon and hit by a heavy mortar round”.
In Uri sector in north Kashmir, Pak-sponsored infiltrators used river base with low water discharge during winters to cross the loC before they were gunned down by the forces. Such infiltrations have earlier been attempted in Gurez sector when terrorists used plastic boats to cross over the gushing Kishanganga rivulet. Sources said the infiltrators, donning Army fatigues, were tracked down in Dulanja village.
This is the first major infiltration bid in 2018 which was successfully foiled by the Army. The Army said they were getting regular Intelligence inputs on the fresh infiltration attempts.
Commander of Uri brigade Brigadier YS Ahlawat told reporters that a major tragedy was averted on the Army Day and in a run up to the Republic Day celebrations by foiling the major infiltration bid.
The escalation of tensions has led to the cancellation of Carvan-e-Aman bus service between Poonch and Rawalakote.
The bus service was earlier resumed in November 2017 after a gap of more than four months. .
“Cross-border travel has been suspended after Pakistan shelling and firing along the loC and the tension that followed,” custodian of loC Trade and Travel, Poonch, Mohammad Tanveer told reporters in Poonch.
On ground zero, situation remained grim as several pockets in the area remained active with both the sides exchanging intense fire for past couple of days.
Due to strong Indian retaliation, the desperate Pakistan Army has been under pressure to launch revenge strikes/BAT operations targeting forward Indian posts.
Following these developments, an alert was sounded all along the loC to prevent repeat of brutal strike by Pakistan Army where a major, along with three other ranks, attained martyrdom in Keeri sector of Rajouri on December 23, 2017. The Indian Army commandos had carried out a 'tactical retaliatory strike' killing at least three Pakistan soldiers on December 25, 2017.
Fresh Intelligence reports indicated the Pakistan Army was desperately trying to push small groups of infiltrators inside the Indian territory to carry out terror strikes.
Meanwhile, continuous exchange of fire and prevailing cold wave conditions have compounded the miseries of the border residents in the forward areas of Rajouri and Poonch across Jammu division.
The Government may have decided to construct more than 14,000 individual and community bunkers to ensure safety of local residents falling in the direct line of fire, but work on these bunkers is yet to begin. There are very few and limited bunkers in place in forward areas and because of inadequate facilities the local residents have no other option but to take risk and stay back in their own houses at the mercy of God.